The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed more than $1.2 million in penalties against a Connecticut-based concrete and earthwork contractor following a follow-up inspection that identified repeated and willful safety violations related to trenching and excavation hazards.
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OSHA cited Sound Construction Inc., an Easton-based contractor, after inspectors found ongoing failures to protect workers from cave-ins and other excavation-related dangers. The agency determined that the company willfully exposed employees to hazardous conditions, despite prior enforcement actions and a settlement agreement requiring improved compliance.
The follow-up inspection stems from a December 2023 workplace fatality at a Sound Construction worksite in New Canaan. That investigation resulted in two willful and five serious citations and led to a settlement agreement obligating the company to submit monthly worksite lists and permit random OSHA inspections to verify compliance with trenching and excavation safety standards.
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On June 12, 2025, OSHA initiated another inspection at a Sound Construction site in Stamford. Inspectors cited the employer for seven willful and four serious violations tied to excavation hazards. According to OSHA, the company failed to properly train workers on trenching risks, provide adequate cave-in protection, conduct required daily excavation inspections, follow trench shield installation requirements, and properly backfill trench shields to prevent dangerous movement.
As a result of the findings, OSHA proposed $1,224,798 in penalties. The employer now has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply with the requirements, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA noted that penalties and citation classifications may change as the case proceeds.
OSHA continues to emphasize the importance of trenching and excavation safety, noting that cave-ins remain one of the most dangerous hazards in construction work. The agency encourages employers to review OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation Safety fact sheet, which outlines regulatory requirements, hazard recognition, and methods to control worker exposure.
The agency also reminded employers that compliance assistance resources and free consultation services are available to help companies meet federal safety standards and prevent serious workplace injuries and fatalities.
Originally reported by U.S. Department of Labor.
