Hurtado Construction is facing severe consequences after a tragic trench collapse that led to the death of a young worker last year near Fulshear. The United States Department of Labor conducted an investigation and found that the company displayed a “willful disregard for required safety procedures,” resulting in the fatal incident.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) discovered that Hurtado Construction Co. allowed the 18-year-old worker to operate without a proper protective system in place. As a result, the worker was tragically killed when a 15-foot trench wall collapsed on him, pinning him against a reinforced concrete box.
Larissa Ipsen, OSHA Area Director, expressed outrage at the company’s negligence, stating, “The company’s callous disregard has cost a young man his life and left his family, friends, and co-workers to grieve a terrible tragedy under circumstances that were completely preventable.”
In response to their findings, OSHA issued Hurtado Construction one willful citation and five serious citations for various safety failures, including not providing adequate first aid resources, a ladder for escape, and safe working conditions in water-saturated excavations. The company now faces penalties totaling $257,811 for these violations.
This is not the first time Hurtado Construction has been cited for safety violations. In 2021, they were reprimanded by OSHA for inadequate protective systems at another excavation worksite in Katy. The company’s pattern of disregarding safety measures is deeply concerning, as highlighted by Ipsen’s statement that they have “routinely ignored its legal responsibility to protect employees’ safety and health.”
Tragically, workplace deaths related to excavation and trenching operations have been on the rise, with 40 worker fatalities recorded in 2022, up from 15 in 2021. It is imperative for companies like Hurtado Construction to prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees to prevent further tragedies.
Hurtado Construction Co. has a history of safety violations, including a previous worker fatality in 2007, and it is crucial for them to take immediate action to address these issues and ensure the safety of their workers moving forward. The company must comply with the penalties issued by OSHA and implement robust safety procedures to prevent future incidents.