Construction Equipment
Ag Equipment
Roadbuilding
Dealers
Business
Technology
Safety: Page 18
Death by Trench
OSHA issues $200K in fines for trench violations on Hawaii water project
A water utility in Honolulu has been fined nearly $200,000 for failing to protect workers from possible trench collapse, says U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
July 19, 2018
Death by Trench
Average initial OSHA fine for a trench death in 2016-17: $52,383
Editor’s Note: This story was updated in July to reflect newly released OSHA fines. OSHA fined Atlantic Drain Service nearly $1.5 million for the Boston trench collapse that killed Kelvin (Chuck) Mattocks and Robert Joseph Higgins on Oct. 25, 2016. The Atlantic Drain fine, however, is an extreme outlier. Looking at available records during 2016-2017, […]
July 17, 2018
Sponsor Content
5 Things To Know Before Buying A Flex-Wing Rotary Cutter
Woods Equipment Co.
October 1, 2025
Safety
Does your jobsite have a safety culture or paperwork culture?
In the 10-year period from 2003 to 2013, there were more construction workers killed on the job in the United States than American soldiers killed in Iraq: 10,957 construction workers died vs. 4,512 fatalities in Iraq. Granted, there were fewer soldiers in Iraq than construction workers here. But still, lots of bad people were trying […]
July 17, 2018
Death by Trench
The evolution of trench protection systems and how to choose the right one
The basics of trench protection pre-date OSHA’s 1989 regulation, yet many contractors still act like it's a mystery. More information on trench protection here.
July 4, 2018
Death by Trench
First on the Scene: Trench rescues are methodical, labor intensive and often unsuccessful
“Not a hell of a lot of people survive it.” That’s the assessment of Fire Chief Cecil “Buddy” Martinette Jr. of Wilmington, North Carolina, the author of the textbook “Trench Rescue” and a frequently cited expert on rescue training. “A majority of people out there who install underground utilities do it according to the book,” […]
July 2, 2018
Safety
House bill would cut funding to OSHA and MSHA, increase NIOSH budget
As part of a draft funding bill proposed by the House Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) would receive modest budget cuts in fiscal year 2019, Safety + Health reports. The draft bill allocates $545.3 […]
June 29, 2018
Death by Trench
Expect more criminal charges in trench deaths
Jay Herzmark had never tried to get anyone arrested before. But when the retired industrial hygienist from the University of Washington’s Environmental Health and Safety Department found out a worker had died in a trench collapse in his county, he felt something had to be done. “No one should die in a trench,” he says. […]
June 28, 2018
Safety
OSHA’s 5 most popular construction safety videos: trenches, silicosis, falls and heat illness
The videos focus on such topics as trench safety; silicosis; construction-related falls; and preventing heat illness. Watch these videos and more here.
June 27, 2018
Death by Trench
Not So Great Escapes: Trench collapse survivors live with fear, disabilities, recriminations
It was going to be an easy fix. The backhoe operator had clipped a small drainage pipe, and water poured into the 6 ½-foot trench. As the operator scooped the water out of the trench, Eric Giguere watched. No problem. They’d get the pipe fixed, and Giguere would be off on his honeymoon. He went […]
June 26, 2018
Safety
OSHA fines Ohio’s JK Excavating & Utilities $201,201 for trench-collapse death
OSHA placed JK Excavating in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program and issued four citations and penalties for violations to OSHA. Details here.
June 25, 2018
Death by Trench
Families of trench collapse victims find few answers to “Why?”
“I wanted to go to the site, and no one would take me.” But Cheryl Spencer insisted. She was there behind the police tape when first responders recovered her husband, Jimmy Dale Spencer, at 4:35 p.m. on March 21, 2016, she says. The 61-year-old died in an 8-foot trench in Alliance, Nebraska. The morning of […]
June 22, 2018
Roadbuilding
More than half of highway contractors report crashes in their work zones, AGC says
The survey revealed that 53 percent of the contractors had to delay projects because of work zone crashes. More information on Equipment World.
June 21, 2018
Death by Trench
Buried alive in Blue Earth County: How one contractor’s missteps took one life, shattered others and ruined his business
Equipment World tells the story of Casey Rady's experience working for Vortex Drain Tiling and the loss of his best friend on a job site.
June 20, 2018
Death by Trench
[Special Report] Death by Trench: The business and human cost of trench-collapse fatalities
When it comes to construction fatalities, trench deaths can be easy to overlook. The number of deaths – 49 in the 2016 to 2017 time period – falls far below the top four culprits of construction deaths: falls, electrocution, struck by object and caught-in/between. But trench fatalities usually mean prolonged efforts to recover a victim, exacerbating the experience for co-workers and family. They require advanced expertise by first responders. Many times, even partially buried victims don’t survive. And they deal a staggering loss to families and to crews that sometimes have worked together for years.
June 18, 2018
Safety
CPWR launches online construction safety information network
The CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training has launched a website to provide a one-stop location for the construction industry to connect with safety and health experts.
June 13, 2018
Safety
Dump truck driver who skipped brake inspection found at fault for fiery 10-vehicle crash
An inspection after the crash revealed three of the eight brakes on the dump truck were out of adjustment and not functioning properly.
June 6, 2018
Roadbuilding
Tests show effectiveness of police cruisers’ flashing blue lights in freeway work zones
Florida DOT tests in both Daytona Beach and Gainsville both say yes. See the stipulations and test results here on Equipment World.
June 6, 2018
Safety
Construction worker killed by loader pinning at gravel pit in S. Dakota
A loader operator did not see the truck driver get out of his truck and ended up pinning him between the loader and the truck. An investigation is being held.
May 29, 2018
Previous Page
Page 18 of 125
Next Page
Top Stories
Excavators
Komatsu's New PC365-11 Hybrid Excavator Boosts Power, Cuts Fuel Use
A fully electric swing system increases swing speeds for the 38-metric-ton model while converting wasted energy into a 70-horsepower boost.
Compact equipment
Closer Look: Bobcat's UV34XL UTV with New Limited Package
Compact Wheel Loaders
The Right Fit for Your Jobsite? – Compact Wheel Loader Buyer's Guide 2025-26
Pickups
2026 Ford Maverick Revealed: Compact Pickup Gets Choice of 5 Trims, 2 Engines
Compact Excavators
Closer Look: Kubota’s New U17-5 Mini Excavator Gets Tough in Tight Spaces
Equipment World Contractor of the Year
The Contractor of the Year contest recognizes contractors who have annual revenues of between $3 million and $20 million and exemplify the highest standards of construction professionals.
White Papers
5 Things To Know Before Buying A Flex-Wing Rotary Cutter
As You Explore Adding a New Flex-wing Cutter to Your Equipment Lineup, It’s Important to Know What Questions to Ask and Key Topics to Research Ahead of Time to Avoid Costly Mistakes and Ensure You Get the Right Flex-wing Cutter for the Job.
