The US Department of Labor Building on March 26, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
FRISCO, Texas – A Frisco contractor is facing a six-figure fine for repeatedly sending workers into unprotected trenches without a way to escape.
What We Know: The Department of Labor has assessed Bandera Utility Contractors LLC with $107,228 in penalties for allegedly not taking steps to protect workers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated Bandera in July 2024 after they received a complaint for a commercial project in Fort Worth.
The complaint said employees working on water and sewer lines did not have enough ladders in the trench and a safe was to escape if the trench collapsed.
This is not the first time Bandera Utility has been accused of not following safety rules.
The administration cited the company for similar safety violations in 2022 after a trench collapsed during a sewer line repair, killing a 41-year-old employee.
What They’re Saying: “Failing to protect workers during trenching operations is reckless and unacceptable, especially when the risks are widely recognized,” said OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor in Fort Worth, Texas. “Bandera Utility Contractors has a duty to protect its workers from cave-ins, and OSHA will continue to enforce federal laws to ensure compliance. Implementing and remembering the three S’s – slope, shore and shield – can save lives and enhance jobsite safety.”
What’s Next: Bandera has 15 days from receiving the citations to comply, request a meeting with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings in front of an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
