Safety & Compliance

How to Prevent Death from Trench Collapse
More workers died in trench collapses in the first half of 2022 than in all of 2021. These safety guidelines can prevent cave-in deaths and injuries.
December 5, 2022
excavator digging trench in dirt stock image
Contractor Cited 3 Times in 4 Years for Trench Violations, Faces $120K Penalty
OSHA reports that the excavation company's employees were exposed to cave-in hazards, despite two previous citations.
November 30, 2022
Backhoe digging trench in dirt stock image
Contractors Still Fail to Call 811 to Prevent Utility Strikes, Report Shows
The nonprofit Common Ground Alliance sees no improvements since 2019 when it comes to damaging underground utilities.
November 7, 2022
DIRT report utility strikes stock photo open high voltage cable in dirt trench
Contractor Faces $1.2M Fine After Operator Dies in Building Collapse
OSHA reports a compact excavator being operated exceeded the partially demolished floor's load, causing an 80-foot fall.
September 30, 2022
boston fire personnel parking garage collapse
OSHA Severe Violator Enforcement Expanded to Cases with No Death or Injuries
Employers will be placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program if OSHA finds at least two willful or repeat violations.
September 29, 2022
Construction worker suffers injury
Undocumented Worker on Loader Hits, Kills Fla. Deputy, Sheriff Says
The deputy was securing a work zone on I-275 when he was struck by the loader. The operator ran and was later found during a K-9 search.
September 27, 2022
Pinellas County Sheriff's cruiser decorated with flowers, cloth, portrait of Deputy Mike Hartwick who died when hit by wheel loader
Vaccine Mandates: Some Federal Contractors Ruled Exempt, Some Not
A new court ruling would exclude some contractors on federal construction projects, but not all.
September 1, 2022
person checking the temperature of construction workers in a line
Carlos’ Law Sets Minimum $500K Penalty for Construction Deaths
Contractors criminally convicted in a worker injury or death in New York State would face a minimum fine of $500,000 for a felony and $300,000 for a misdemeanor.
September 1, 2022
backhoe bucket digging trench stock image
OSHA Proposes Public Reporting of Safety Data – and Contractors Have Serious Concerns
The new proposed rule may lead to attacks on certain employers with graphic or excessive details on their OSHA 300 or 301 forms by competitors, plaintiffs’ lawyers, community activists and union organizers.
May 23, 2022
Construction worker suffers injury
Cited Twice in 1 Week for Trenches, Contractor Faces $220,000 in Penalties
Inspectors found workers in a trench with no cave-in protection. Six days later they found five more unprotected trenches at the contractor's other site.
May 17, 2022
backhoe bucket digging trench in dirt
2 Ga. Contractors Cited After Fatal Bridge Collapse During Demolition
An overstressed section collapsed and fell into the river 50 feet below, killing one and injuring two workers, OSHA says.
May 9, 2022
Georgia bridge collapse excavator truck in river
2 Workers Escaped Trench Collapse But Ordered Back In: 1 Died, 1 Injured
The trench collapsed. Workers escaped. They were ordered back in. It collapsed again, killing one and injuring the other.
May 3, 2022
backhoe digging trench
Fla. Expressway Contractor Cited after Worker Killed in Crane Incident
He died on a toll-road construction project after being struck in the chest by a concrete pile. OSHA issues penalties on the contractor.
April 25, 2022
road work ahead sign
Crackdown, New Rules on Heat Hazards Coming from OSHA
Construction has 13 times the risk of heat-related deaths, as well as the highest number of workers hospitalized for heat-related issues.
April 25, 2022
Construction workers working in extreme heat with a wet towel on their heads
Contractor Racks Up Over $1M in Penalties Since Fatal Trench Collapse
Since its employee died in a trench in 2016, this company has been cited three times by OSHA for not protecting its workers from cave-ins.
April 8, 2022
excavator digging trench
New OSHA Bulletin for Job-Made Boxes and Platforms
Putting a makeshift platform or box on a telehandler or forklift to lift workers, materials or equipment is a risky move. Are you following these best practices for working at height?
April 7, 2022
Telehandler at a construction site
Georgia Contractor Wins Equipment World’s 2022 Safety Award
The McGraley Company formed in 2009 in Georgia. Today, it is a $13 million to $15 million company serving large corporations with stringent safety rules.
April 1, 2022
Equipment World safety award winner McGraley Company
$400K in Penalties Issued for Trench Violations in Pa., Ohio
Contractors on jobs in Ohio and Philadelphia are facing six-figure penalties, including one at an Amazon site where a worker died.
March 22, 2022
trench violations issued OSHA
Page 1 of 3
Next Page
Top Stories
Cat 352 excavator bucket to cab view
Excavators
Cat Ready to Play in Your Quarry with New 352 Excavator
The 443-horsepower machine can operate high-capacity buckets and large hydraulic hammers for tough jobs.
the dirt episode 97 komatsu pc 360 lci-11 review
The Dirt
Test Run of Komatsu’s -11 Excavators Equipped with iMC 2.0
Cat 793 electric mining dump truck with full load of dirt parked desert
Off-Road Trucks
Caterpillar Reveals its First Battery-Powered Mining Truck (Video)
Cat 340 hydraulic excavator loading a truck
Excavators
Tough & Techy: Cat Launches New 41-Ton 340 Excavator
finalists at Equipment World's 2022 Contractor of the Year Awards
Contractor of the Year
2023 Contractor of the Year Finalists Announced by Equipment World
Equipment World Contractor of the Year
The Contractor of the Year contest recognizes contractors who have annual revenues of between $3 million and $15 million and exemplify the highest standards of construction professionals.
Learn More
White Papers
7 Secrets to a Safe Fleet
Discover new technology that is making life easier for fleet managers and drivers; solutions that automate compliance, streamline maintenance and help create effective safety programs. Get the eBook now.
DownloadView All