Guam contractor faces $1 million fine over repeated trench safety violations, OSHA investigation reveals

TIYAN, GUAM (UI) ‒ Giant Construction Corp., a Tamuning contractor, is under fire with over $1 million in penalties after federal inspectors discovered trench workers exposed to fatal hazards. Despite repeated violations, the company continues to neglect safety protocols, putting workers at risk in deep trenches at the Palisades Subdivision Project in Tiyan, according to OSHA.

Trench collapses pose grave risks, often resulting in severe or fatal injuries. Yet, OSHA found Giant Construction Corp. failing to provide essential safety measures, earning nine willful violations. Additionally, the company was cited for two serious violations for inadequate trench exit provisions.

This isn't the first time Giant Construction Corp. has faced scrutiny. Since 2014, they've been inspected five times, accruing multiple violations, including repeat offenses. Despite OSHA's trenching standards and emphasis program, the company continues to prioritize profit over worker safety.

Giant Construction Corp. has a limited window to respond to the citations and penalties, including options for compliance, an informal conference, or contesting the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Trench collapses are among the construction industry's most serious dangers, according to OSHA. Excavations can collapse in seconds and lead to serious and often fatal injuries as workers are buried under cubic yards of soil, each weighing as much as 3,000 lbs. In 2022, trench collapses killed at least 39 U.S. construction workers. 

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