OSHA Inspection: OHIO VALLEY EXCAVATING LLC

Issued

May 19, 2026

Abate by

Jun 8, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $12,500 Reduced

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. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 20, 2026, the employer failed to ensure that a competent person conducted an inspection of the excavation prior to employees entering it to identify hazardous conditions, including cave?in hazards. Employees were installing a manhole vault while working inside a trench box that sat more than 4 feet above the bottom of the excavation. At the open end of the trench box, employees were working adjacent to an unprotected section of the excavation that was approximately 6 feet wide and up to 15 feet deep, with a vertical, unsupported face.  No inspection by a competent person was completed before work was performed in the excavation, exposing employees to the hazard of a cave?in.  b. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 21, 2026,  the employer failed to ensure that a competent person conducted an inspection of the excavation prior to employees entering it to identify hazardous conditions, including cave?in hazards.  Employees were installing conduit into a manhole vault while working inside a trench box positioned at the northwest corner of the excavation. At the open end of the trench box, employees were directly adjacent to an unprotected section of the excavation that was approximately 6 feet wide and up to 15 feet deep, with a vertical, unsupported face. No inspection by a competent person was completed before work was performed in the excavation, exposing employees to the hazard of a cave?in.

Issued

May 19, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,895 · Current $12,500 Reduced

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. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 20, 2026, the employer did not ensure that employees working in an excavation greater than 5 feet in depth were protected from cave?ins by an adequate protective system. Employees were leveling the excavation floor and installing a manhole vault positioned adjacent to an unprotected section of the excavation located at the open end of the manhole trench box at the northwest corner. The unprotected section of the excavation was approximately 6 feet wide and up to 15 feet deep, with a vertical, unsupported face, exposing employees to the hazard of a cave?in.  b. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 21, 2026,  the employer did not ensure that employees working in an excavation greater than 5 feet in depth were protected from cave?ins by an adequate protective system. Employees were installing conduit inside a manhole vault positioned adjacent to an unprotected section of the excavation located at the open end of the manhole trench box at the northwest corner. The unprotected section of the excavation was approximately 6 feet wide and up to 15 feet deep, with a vertical, unsupported face, exposing employees to a cave?in.

Issued

May 19, 2026

Abate by

Jun 8, 2026

Penalty

Initial $10,641 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.652(g)(2): Additional requirement for shield systems used in trench excavations. Excavations of earth material to a level not greater than 2 feet (.61 m) below the bottom of a shield shall be permitted, but only if the shield is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench, and there are no indications while the trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the shield.  a. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 20, 2026, the employer did not ensure that the shielding system used in a manhole excavation was set at or fewer than 2 feet below the bottom of the excavation. Employees were leveling the excavation floor and installing a manhole vault while working in a trench box that was set more than 4 feet off of the bottom of the excavation which exposed employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards.  b. Ohio Valley Excavating located at or near 13385 Green Chapel Road, Johnstown, OH 43031:  On or about April 21, 2026, the employer did not ensure that the shielding system used in a manhole excavation was set at or fewer than 2 feet below the bottom of the excavation. Employees were installing pipe conduit into a manhole vault while working in a trench box that was set more than 4 feet off of the bottom of the excavation which exposed the employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards.