OSHA cites Blazey Construction for excavation collapse onto worker

OSHA concluded Blazey Construction Services LLC exposed employees to safety hazards after an excavation collapse hospitalized a worker in Alvin, Texas.

The agency began its investigation into the Houston-based utility construction company following the incident, which occurred while crews were installing sewer and water pipes for a residential development in January.

OSHA determined the employer failed to:

• Adequately protect the excavation
• Provide a safe means of egress
• Report the hospitalization within 24 hours as required by federal law

OSHA cited Blazey Construction for two repeat violations and one other-than-serious violation and proposed $343,797 in penalties.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC).

Four previous citations for trench protection and egress issues

OSHA previously cited Blazey Construction four other times since 2020 for similar trench safety violations.

These citations included insufficient trench safety training, daily trench inspections, means of egress, ladder securement, and protection from cave-ins, engulfment, and excavated material falling back into trenches.

These violations exposed employees to struck-by, crushed-by, fall hazards, and hazardous atmospheres.

OSHA initially issued over $178,000 in fines across those four incidents, later reduced to just under $107,000. The single-most expensive individual fine totaled nearly $80,000 for a second repeat failure to protect against cave-ins.