Sound Construction Inc. was cited for two willful and five serious OSHA violations and fined $394,083 after a worker died in a December 2023 trench collapse in New Canaan, Connecticut — the company had received prior trenching citations in 2016 and would go on to receive a second $1.2M citation in 2025 for the same violations at a Stamford worksite.

Sound Construction Inc. — Worker Killed in Trench Collapse, New Canaan CT (2023–2024)

Outcome: A worker died in December 2023 when a 12-foot-deep trench collapsed during water line repair in New Canaan, Connecticut; OSHA cited Sound Construction Inc. for two willful and five serious violations and proposed $394,083 in penalties — the company would later receive a $1.2 million citation for the same uncorrected violations at a 2025 follow-up inspection.

In December 2023, a worker employed by Sound Construction Inc. of Easton, Connecticut died when a trench more than 12 feet deep collapsed during water line repair work in New Canaan. OSHA's investigation found that Sound Construction had exposed five employees to cave-in and engulfment hazards in the deep trench. The company had failed to provide any cave-in protection, positioned excavating equipment too close to the trench edge (creating additional collapse risk), failed to train workers on trenching hazards, and had not verified underground utility locations before digging.

The two willful violations reflected the company's knowing disregard of cave-in protection requirements. Five serious violations covered the full range of trenching safety deficiencies. OSHA proposed $394,083 in penalties and noted the company had received similar trench citations in 2016. The December 2025 follow-up inspection at a Stamford worksite found the same hazards still uncorrected, resulting in an additional $1.2 million in penalties.

Primary Source: Department of Labor cites Connecticut contractor for workplace safety violations found in fatal New Canaan trench cave-in investigation