OSHA Inspection: PERFORMANCE SITE DEVELOPMENT

Issued

2026-05-29

Abate by

2026-07-06

Penalty

Initial $4965 · Current $4965

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(c)(2): Means of egress from trench excavations. A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress shall be located in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.22 m) or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel for employees.   a). On March 16, 2026, employer did not ensure that employees in a 5'3" deep trench had a safe means of egress, such as a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe method. As a result, employees were exposed to cave in and entrapment hazards due to the lack of a required means of egress.

Issued

2026-05-29

Abate by

2026-07-06

Penalty

Initial $4965 · Current $4965

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.651(k)(1): Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems shall be made by a competent person for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. An inspection shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.  a) On March 16, 2026, employer did not ensure that a competent person inspected the excavation before work began. The inspection did not identify conditions that included the presence of traffic near the trench, a trench depth of 5 feet 3 inches that required a protective system, and the lack of a means of egress such as a ladder, ramp, or stairway. As a result, employees entered and worked in an excavation that had no protective system and no means of egress, which exposed them to the hazard of a trench collapse

Issued

2026-05-29

Abate by

2026-07-06

Penalty

Initial $4965 · Current $4965

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(a)(1): Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section except when:  a) On March 16, 2026,  the employer did not ensure that employees working in an excavation were protected from cave?ins. Employees worked inside a trench measured at 5 feet 3 inches in depth while installing new water mains, and no protective system such as sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box had been installed. As a result, employees were exposed to cave?in hazards while working within the trench.