Two Florida contractors are facing significant fines after federal safety inspectors found they had exposed workers to dangerous trenching conditions in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations to Masci General Contractor Inc. and KT Carter Contracting Inc. for willful and serious safety violations, proposing combined penalties of $363,436.
OSHA inspectors observed the violations during separate site visits in late May. At a Daytona Beach worksite on May 28, inspectors found Masci General Contractor employees installing a sewer line in a six-foot-deep trench without required safety measures to prevent cave-ins, such as trench boxes or shoring. Workers were removed from the trench, and the company was cited for willfully endangering employees.
A few days later, inspectors encountered KT Carter Contracting employees working in a 12-foot-deep trench in Jacksonville, also without cave-in protections. Employees were similarly removed, and the company received a willful violation.
“Exposing workers to unprotected trenches puts their lives at serious risk,” said OSHA Area Director Scott Tisdale, based in Jacksonville. “In a matter of seconds, a trench wall can collapse, burying workers under tons of soil, leading to life-altering injuries – incidents that are completely preventable with the right safety measures in place.”
In addition to willful violations, OSHA cited both companies for serious safety lapses, including failing to provide safe entry and exit points such as ladders or ramps and placing spoil piles too close to trench edges, increasing the risk of collapse. Masci General Contractor faces $216,633 in penalties, while KT Carter Contracting faces $146,803.
OSHA issued the citations on Nov. 13, and the companies have 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA officials, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Trenching and excavation work is considered one of the construction industry’s most hazardous activities. According to OSHA, effective safety measures can prevent injuries and fatalities, underscoring the importance of compliance with federal standards.