California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $529,640 in citations to Smelly Mel's Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing after a trench collapsed on a San Mateo sewer line construction site, seriously injuring a worker buried under debris.

The citations were for:

• Lack of daily safety inspections by a competent person;
• No safe exit routes from the trench, such as a ladder;
• No protective systems in the trench to prevent collapse;
• No protection from falling debris;
• No adequate protection for workers feet, causing foot injuries from jack hammer usage;
• Inadequate trained first aid providers onsite;
• No permit; and
• Lack of toolbox safety meetings onsite, as per Illness and Injury Prevention requirements.

Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee stated that: "Trench collapses remain one of the most serious hazards in construction, and employers must take all necessary steps to protect their employees. These citations serve as a reminder that businesses must prioritize worker safety, especially during high-risk operations to avoid tragic accidents."

Take-Aways:

Employers must not ignore safety, including the state-mandated Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP). Workers' health and even lives -- and the avoidance of potentially enormous fines -- depend on having proper safety precautions.

For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

See also:

• Not So Safeway?: Cal/OSHA Cites Supermart for Serious Hazardous Conditions in Warehouse (February 14, 2025)
• Maul Wake-Up Call: Cal/OSHA Fines LA Animal Shelter For Overcrowding, Staff Injuries (January 3, 2025)
• Gone Postal: USPS Tagged for Retaliation Against Injured Workers (August 9, 2024)

Helena Kobrin
February 28, 2025