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    OSHA Cites Texas Contractor with Trenching Violations

    Aug. 7, 2024
    CMD Endeavors has been cited for trench safety issues six times since 2015.
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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    An El Paso contractor could have prevented a 37-year-old employee from suffering fatal injuries in February by following federally required safety standards to avoid trench collapses, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the same failure for which it was cited six times since 2015.

    OSHA determined a pipe layer for CMD Endeavors Inc. was allowed to work in an excavation without a proper protective system. (Read about the three types of proper protection systems.) The trench collapsed, causing a piece of asphalt to fall and severely injure the worker who later died in an area hospital. 

    The City of El Paso had contracted the company for  pipework for the Cedar Grove Waterline Replacement project, part of an ongoing citywide initiative.

    "Despite repeated citations and warnings about the dangers of unprotected trenches, CMD Endeavors has ignored the hazards for nearly a decade, and now an employee has lost their life," said OSHA Area Director Diego Alvarado, Jr., in a statement. "Rather than protecting its workers from this workplace hazard, the company did nothing to prevent this tragedy and leaves a family, friends and co-workers to grieve a needless loss."

    OSHA issued citations to CMD Endeavors for one willful and one serious violation and two repeat violations related to its failures to provide adequate systems to prevent trench cave-ins, stop nearby materials from falling into the trench, ensure a trench exit within 25 feet, and support adjacent pavement.

    The company faces $260,848 in proposed penalties.