Oregon contractor cited again for trench safety failures on Beaverton jobsite
(UI) — A Hillsboro-based excavation company is facing state penalties after inspectors found workers exposed to serious trenching hazards at a residential construction site in Beaverton.
Oregon OSHA cited Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. following a May 12 inspection that found two employees working in a trench more than five feet deep without any protective system in place. The narrow trench, roughly 3 feet wide and 12 feet long, lacked safeguards required to prevent collapse.
Trenching violations are considered high-risk due to the potential for sudden cave-ins, which can quickly trap and kill workers. The inspection was conducted under a state initiative that targets excavation hazards.
“Any employer preparing to do this type of work must take the well-known dangers seriously by following safety requirements designed to protect workers,” said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “Workers have a right to hazard-free jobsites. Employers must make that right a reality."
The agency cited the company for three violations:
- Not providing a protective system to prevent trench collapse (repeat violation)
- Failing to have a competent person on-site to identify trench hazards (repeat violation)
- Not protecting workers from loose soil or rock falling into the trench (serious violation)
This is not the company’s first citation related to trench safety. Employers have 30 days to appeal citations.
Oregon OSHA noted it offers free consultation services and educational materials for employers looking to improve safety practices around excavation work.
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