Unnamed Massachusetts-based water and sewer line construction contractor

OSHA issued citations for 7 willful violations and 33 repeat violations. The specific penalty amount was not disclosed in the initial press release summary. The case highlights ongoing safety issues in the construction industry regarding trenching and excavation safety protocols.

A Massachusetts-based water and sewer line construction contractor was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor for 7 willful and 33 repeat violations after a fatal trench collapse in Yarmouth, Massachusetts in November 2025. The cave-in claimed the life of one employee and seriously injured another worker at the worksite.

The contractor willfully and repeatedly exposed workers to safety hazards in trenching operations. The violations involved failure to implement proper trench protection systems, inadequate safety measures for workers in excavation sites, and repeated disregard for established trench safety standards that had been previously cited.