AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin construction company has been cited for serious violations and could now face fines of more than $121,000.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Austin Constructors LLC exposed workers to trenching hazards at the worksite on Colorado Street. One of the violations was for failing to have a protective system in the trenches to protect employees.
Some of the serious violations include not covering utility lines and not protecting workers from falling rocks or loose soil. The company also failed to add safety guardrails on walkways over the trenches.
The worksite is run by the Muniz Concrete and Contracting Inc.; the most serious violation was for the risk of the trench caving-in. The penalties would be divided to ask for $113,486 from Austin Constructors LLC and $7,857 from Muniz Concrete and Contracting Inc.
“There are roughly 54 fatalities associated with excavations each year, such as the one that happened in Lockhart this past week, because employers failed to take the necessary measures to keep them safe,” said Casey R. Perkins, OSHA’s area director in Austin. “These employers knew better, and they are fortunate we inspected them before any of their employees were seriously injured or killed.”
The investigation began on April 28. The companies each have 15 days from when they received the final citations to pay up, meet with the OSHA director, or fight the penalties. They were both cited Sept. 6, so they have until Sept. 21 to respond.
Just last week, a construction worker died while working on a trench project in Lockhart. OSHA is still investigating that accident to determine if there were any safety violations with the project.
By Claire Ricke
