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Peters Township contractor, Pittsburgh agency fined by OSHA

By David Singer 2 min read
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A Venetia construction contractor has been fined $37,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to provide safety measures for temporary employees.

The fine against Kinsey Corp., 767 Bebout Road, was announced Wednesday in an OSHA press release. In one instance, a temporary worker installing pipe was in a trench 18 feet deep with no cave-in protection. The work was done in September at Settlers Pointe housing development along McMichael Road in Collier Township, Allegheny County. An anonymous tip provided to OSHA prompted an investigation, according to spokeswoman Leni Forston.

Subcontractor Gillman Services Inc., a staffing agency in Pittsburgh who provided employees, was also fined $7,000, according to OSHA, for failing to provide adequate train workers in potentially dangerous environments.

“Both Kinsey Corp. and Gillmann Services failed to provide the required training and take necessary precautions to protect their workers from the serious dangers associated with trenching and excavation. Without proper protection, a cave-in or collapse with these people working 18 feet below ground could have been catastrophic. These workers could have been crushed and buried beneath thousands of pounds of soil,” said Christopher Robinson, director of OSHA’s Pittsburgh area office.

“Host employers and staffing agencies are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for all workers; this includes ensuring that OSHA’s training requirements are met, especially when you consider two workers die each month nationally in trench and excavation incidents,” Robinson said.

Kinsey was cited by OSHA with four “serious” violations and one “willful” violation while Gillman was handed one “serious” violation. A representative with Gillman who declined to give his name said the agency had no comment. A Kinsey representative could not be immediately be reached for comment.

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