A Kent Contactor is facing over $400,000 in fines for safety violations that lead to the death of a construction worker last September in Renton, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries said in a release on Tuesday.
A 36-year-old man was killed when the dirt walls of the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him, the Renton Regional Fire Authority first tweeted on Sept. 7, 2022.
L&I inspectors determined the man had been working in a trench 18 to 20 feet deep at a new housing development. No one had inspected the trench before the worker entered, and the shields installed were inadequate for the soil type and depth. Employees inside the trench also did not have a safe way of getting out, according to the L&I release.
“One cubic yard of soil can weigh more than a car,” said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “Dirt walls can collapse suddenly and without any warning. That’s why there are safety rules in place. The requirements are well-known by employers in the industry, and effective when followed. Mr. Gill should still be alive today.”
When L&I inspectors arrived at the Renton site, they found the trench box designed to hold back the soil was four feet shorter than the top of the trench. Another trench box was found on site, not being used. Inspectors said if AAA Contractors had stacked that box on top of the other one, the cave-in might have been prevented, said Blackwood.
They also found two ladder sections had been tied together with rope, which is not permitted. The ladder still wasn’t tall enough to extend the required three feet above the trench. The ladder side rails and rungs were damaged and they should not have been used, said the release.
Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction jobs, and the danger is growing, the Washington State Department of L&I said. Excavation incidents killed 35 workers across the U.S. in 2022, which is more than double the 15 workers killed in 2021.
Two more men were killed in a trench collapse at a backyard construction site in Shoreline last July. In addition, Alki Construction owner, Phillip Numrich was sentenced in March 2022 to 45 days in jail for his role in a 2016 trench collapse in West Seattle, the release said.
The Washington State Department of L&I has cited AAA Contactors Inc. for three willful and one serious violation in connection with the incident. The company was also cited for several general violations, including not having a first-aid certified person on site, the person in charge was not first-aid certified, and there were no documented walk-around safety inspections, making the total fines $437,581.
A willful violation is cited when a business owner or contractor intentionally ignores a hazard or rule. A serious violation is cited when a worker is exposed to a hazard that can cause injury or death.
AAA Contractors Inc. has been identified as a severe violator and is now subject to greater scrutiny. The company has filed an appeal.
Visit L&I’s Trenching & Excavation topic page to learn more about trenching safety.
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