The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines against two construction firms working on a new Amazon facility in Philadelphia after a worker died from being trapped when an excavation wall collapsed last summer.
General contractor Gilbane Building Co. hired Mayfield Site Contractors Inc. to excavate soil and construct a retaining wall near a vertical shear cut excavation. Four laborers working for Mayfield were manually leveling a bed of stone behind and on top of the retaining wall blocks in front of the 20-foot shear wall when the shear excavated wall collapsed on one employee and resulted in fatal crushing injuries, according to OSHA.
OSHA found Mayfield and Gilbane did not adequately protect employees from the excavated wall when they were working in front of it. OSHA said it initiated an inspection on July 27, 2021.
OSHA has proposed a $175,480 penalty against Mayfield and a $14,502 penalty against Gilbane.
Both Mayfield and Gilbane are contesting the penalties.
“Mayfield Site Contractors and Gilbane Building Co. did not provide the proper protection for the workers, resulting in a senseless loss of life,” said Theresa Downs, OSHA area director in Philadelphia.
Topics Workers' Compensation Contractors Training Development
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