Sound Construction Inc. was cited for seven willful and four serious OSHA violations and fined $1,224,798 following a fatal trench cave-in in December 2023 and a subsequent follow-up inspection at a Stamford worksite that found the same hazards persisting.

Sound Construction Inc. — Fatal Trench Collapse, Willful Repeat Violations (2023–2025)

Outcome: Sound Construction Inc. was cited for seven willful and four serious violations totaling $1,224,798 in penalties after a worker died in a December 2023 trench cave-in and a follow-up inspection at a second worksite found the same hazards had not been corrected.

A worker employed by Sound Construction Inc., an Easton, Connecticut earthwork contractor, died in December 2023 at a New Canaan worksite when a trench caved in. OSHA investigated the fatality and required the company to submit monthly active worksite lists for random safety compliance inspections as a condition of the enforcement process.

During a follow-up inspection at a Stamford, Connecticut worksite, investigators found that the company had not implemented the required corrections. Workers were still not trained on unsafe trenching and excavation hazards, adequate cave-in protective systems were absent, daily excavation inspections were not being performed, workers were not following trench shield installation standards, and shields were not being backfilled properly to prevent hazardous lateral movement. OSHA issued seven willful violations and four serious violations and proposed a penalty of $1,224,798.

The case was cited in December 2025. The company had 15 business days to comply, request a conference, or contest before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Primary Source: US Department of Labor cites Connecticut earthwork contractor for continued violations after follow-up inspection, proposes $1.2M fine