Ehstoday 6883 Oshatrenchweb 1
Ehstoday 6883 Oshatrenchweb 1
Ehstoday 6883 Oshatrenchweb 1
Ehstoday 6883 Oshatrenchweb 1
Ehstoday 6883 Oshatrenchweb 1

OSHA Fines Arrow Plumbing LLC After Fatal Trench Collapse

June 23, 2017
Blue Springs, Mo.-based Arrow Plumbing LLC faces more than $700,000 in penalties after a 33-year-old employee died in a trench collapse.

On Dec. 15 2016, 33-year-old Donald Meyer arrived at a job site and began to perform his duties as a plumber. He never returned home.

While working in a 12-ft-deep unprotected trench, the walls collapsed around Meyer, burying him in 10 ft. of dirt. Rescue crews did not recover his body until that night.

An OSHA fatality investigation discovered that Arrow Plumbing LLC, the Blue Springs, Mo-based subcontractor, failed to protect workers from trenching hazards. A subsequent visit to a Kansas City, Mo. job site just one month later found found the contractor’s employees working in an unprotected trench at another residential work site. No employees were injured at the site.

“We call on all employers involved in excavation work to review their safety procedures, and to ensure that all workers are properly protected and trained on the job,” said Kimberly Stille, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. in a statement.

At both sites, investigators discovered Arrow Plumbing LLC did not install a support system to protect workers in from a cave in, it did not train workers about how to identify hazards in trenching and excavation work, and did not provide a ladder at all times so employees could evacuate or leave a trench.

In total, OSHA found Arrow Plumbing LLC committed six willful and eight serious violations of workplace safety standards. The agency has proposed  a total of $714,142 in penalties.

The citations for the Dec. 15, 2016, fatality inspection can be viewed here. Citations for the Jan. 20, inspection may be viewed here.

Sponsored Recommendations

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Best Immunization Practices: Workplace Vaccine Clinics

March 13, 2024
Immunization practices continue to play a part in maintaining worker health and well-being. To minimize the risk of at-work infections and the business disruptions sure to follow...

Basic Requirements of Lockout Tagout

Feb. 27, 2024
This 1 hour webinar defines the importance of lockout tagout, its scope, the basic elements of an energy control program and alternative measures.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!