Texas Contractor Faces Steep OSHA Fines After Fatal Trench Collapse

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has imposed fines totaling $257,811 on Texas-based Hurtado Construction Co. following a trench collapse that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old worker in Fulshear, Texas. The incident, which occurred on September 15 during a water and sewer line installation project, led to the young worker’s fatal crushing and asphyxiation under tons of dirt after a trench wall collapsed.

OSHA’s investigation identified a willful violation and six serious citations against Hurtado, highlighting several safety oversights. These included the absence of a designated first aid responder, the lack of a ladder for emergency escapes, employees working in conditions with accumulating water and saturated soil, misuse of a reinforced concrete box outside its intended protective specifications, and failure to protect employees from cave-in risks by not securing trench walls properly.

This isn’t the first time Hurtado Construction has come under OSHA’s scrutiny. With at least five previous citations since 2015, the company’s history includes violations for inadequate collapse protection and other safety hazards, such as a similar fatal incident in 2007 where an employee was killed during trench backfilling. OSHA’s Houston Area Director, Larissa Ipsen, criticized Hurtado’s repeated neglect of safety obligations, emphasizing the preventable nature of the recent tragedy.

Hurtado Construction has a 15-day period following the OSHA notice to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the findings, as the construction industry continues to face challenges in ensuring trench safety and adhering to regulatory standards.