OSHA Cites Ga. Contractors For Work Site Hazards at Trenches

A federal work safety agency accused contractors in north Georgia and metro Atlanta last week of allowing employees to work in unsafe conditions in deep trenches at their sites.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued several citations each to J.L. Murray and Associates of Canton and Commercial Clear-All of Lithia Springs, and proposed penalties of $46,250 and $41,650 for the infractions.

The J.L. Murray and Associates workers were installing sewer lines at their site in a 13-foot-deep trench. Commercial Clear-All was working in a 10-foot-deep trench in a parking lot at a mall in Smyrna.

According to OSHA, employees were allowed to work in the trenches without a cave-in protection system or properly shored or sloped trench walls.

The violations were discovered during a June 14 inspection of J.L. Murray and Associates site and a May 31 inspection of the Commercial Clear-All site.

Both companies have 15 days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.