Cal/OSHA Cites Plumbing Companies $529K Following Trench Collapse

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued citations totaling $529,640 to Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing following a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo.

Both companies received eight citations each, including willful and serious violations, for failing to implement adequate safety measures.

The incident occurred during a sewer line installation at a private residence in August 2024.

An investigation found that proper protective systems, necessary inspections and adequate worker training were not provided.

Reported findings include:

• Employers did not ensure that a competent person conducted daily inspections of the trench, adjacent areas, and protective systems that could have detected hazardous conditions such as cave-ins.
• Both employers failed to provide the construction workers with a ladder or other means of exiting the trench that was roughly 9 feet and 3 inches in depth.
• Neither employer provided adequate protective systems, such as shoring, shielding, sloping or benching to the trench to prevent its collapse.
• Neither employer protected workers from excavated materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the trench.
• The employer failed to ensure workers had proper foot protection, which exposed at least one worker to foot injuries when using a jackhammer.
• The employers did not have an appropriate number of trained people to render first aid at the jobsite.
• The employers failed to notify the division prior to the start of the annual permit-required activity of constructing an excavation over 5 feet in depth.
• The employers failed to conduct a toolbox safety meeting at the jobsite with the crew for the duration of the project.

Cal/OSHA regulations require protective systems such as trench boxes or shoring to prevent cave-ins, as well as daily inspections to identify potential hazards.

Topics Workers' Compensation