🗞️ Birmingham Construction Company Hit with Willful OSHA Violation After Trench Collapse
OSHA cited CB&A Construction LLC with a willful violation and $170,145 in penalties after workers were exposed to trench collapse hazards while installing drain pipes in Bessemer, Alabama, without proper safety protections.
Following a trench collapse incident in Jefferson County, Alabama, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated CB&A Construction LLC and found workers installing drain pipes under dangerous conditions. Investigators discovered employees working under a suspended load, without hard hats, and at the edge of an excavation that lacked protective restraints.
OSHA issued a willful violation citation—the agency's most serious classification, indicating intentional disregard for safety standards or plain indifference to worker safety. The company faces $170,145 in proposed penalties and has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The investigation is part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, which has been associated with a nearly 70% reduction in trench collapse fatalities since 2022. Trench collapses remain among the most preventable yet deadly construction hazards—a cubic yard of soil weighs approximately 3,000 pounds, and workers caught in collapses face high fatality rates from crushing or suffocation. OSHA standards require protective systems for trenches 5 feet deep or greater, including sloping, shoring, or shielding.
Key Points
- CB&A Construction LLC received a willful violation citation for exposing workers to trench collapse hazards in Bessemer, Alabama
- Workers were found installing drain pipes under a suspended load, without hard hats, and at an unprotected excavation edge
- OSHA proposed $170,145 in penalties following the investigation
- Willful violations indicate intentional disregard or plain indifference to safety requirements
- The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the findings
- Trench deaths nationwide have declined nearly 70% since 2022
- OSHA requires protective systems for all trenches 5 feet or deeper
Primary Source Author: U.S. Department of Labor OSHA
Primary Source: U.S. Department of Labor OSHA
Primary Source Link: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20260128
Supplemental Links
- OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Overview
- OSHA Specific Excavation Requirements - 29 CFR 1926.651
- OSHA Penalties and Violation Classifications
- OSHA National Emphasis Program on Trenching
- OSHA Compliance Assistance Resources
- OSHA Trench Safety Tips Card
- DOL Report: Decline in Worker Death Investigations (2024)
