MANITOWOC, Wis. (AP) — A federal workplace-safety agency has cited a Manitowoc utility contractor for five alleged safety violations.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the violations stem from trenching operations conducted by Vinton Construction Co. The citations carry proposed penalties of about $95,000.
OSHA says the company failed to protect workers from cave-ins while installing pipes in a trench about 6 feet deep. OSHA standards say all excavations 5 feet or deeper have to be protected against collapse.
The agency also accuses Vinton of failing to conduct proper inspections or keep excavated materials far enough from the edge of the trench.
A message left with Vinton was not immediately returned.
The company has 15 business days to comply with the fines, contest the citations or request a conference with OSHA.
