California OSHA Fines Firms $87K in Fatal Wall Collapse
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Oct. 3 fined contractor Kunzik & Sara Construction $41,150 and issued three violations against it, including two serious ones, which the firm is contesting, after a six-month probe of a worker death on a project in El Cajon.
OSHA issued seven citations against subcontractor Southland Paving and fined it $45, 825, says a San Diego TV report.
Two workers were at a project trench site in April when an 8-ft concrete wall collapsed. The trench was next to and below the wall’s footing, OSHA said. Fernando Martinez, 51, died at the scene. The other worker escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.
“The employer did not provide support systems such as shoring or bracing … where stability of an adjoining wall was endangered by excavation,” OSHA said.
Southland did not comment. Kunzik & Sara denied allegations in response to a June lawsuit by the victim’s family, says the TV report.
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