Connecticut Contractor Faces New OSHA Fines After Worker’s Death

Federal workplace safety officials are once again targeting a Connecticut contractor after uncovering serious trenching hazards at a local job site.

This latest case centers on Easton-based Sound Construction Inc., which now faces more than $1.2 million in proposed penalties following an inspection in Stamford.

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The company’s history of violations in communities like New Canaan and Trumbull is drawing sharp scrutiny from regulators.

It’s also raising fresh questions about trench safety standards on construction sites across Connecticut, from Bridgeport to Hartford and beyond.

OSHA Hits Easton Contractor With More Than $1.2 Million in New Penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Sound Construction Inc. for multiple trenching and excavation violations after a June 12 inspection at a Stamford worksite.

OSHA issued seven willful and four serious citations tied to excavation hazards.

Willful violations are among OSHA’s most serious findings.

They’re reserved for cases where an employer knowingly disregards safety requirements or acts with plain indifference to worker safety.

Why the Latest Stamford Inspection Matters

OSHA’s June 12 inspection in Stamford wasn’t routine.

It followed a pattern of conduct that federal officials say shows a repeated disregard for trench safety rules.

The proposed penalties of more than $1.2 million show the agency’s increasingly aggressive stance toward employers who don’t protect workers in one of construction’s most dangerous environments.

Inspectors say Sound Construction didn’t implement basic, well-known safeguards designed to keep workers alive and prevent trench collapses.

Key Trenching and Excavation Violations Identified by OSHA

OSHA’s report outlines a series of failures that, taken together, dramatically increased the risk of a deadly incident.

Construction crews in cities like Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, and Waterbury regularly perform excavation work, and these violations highlight just how quickly things can go wrong when safety procedures are ignored.

Failure to Train and Protect Workers in Trenches

At the Stamford job site, OSHA found that Sound Construction:

Failed to train workers on trenching and excavation hazards.

Did not provide adequate cave-in protection, such as sloping, benching, shoring, or properly installed trench shields.

Neglected daily excavation inspections, a core requirement for identifying changes in soil conditions or other risk factors.

Improperly installed and backfilled trench shields, undermining the very equipment meant to prevent cave-ins.

These aren’t obscure requirements.

Trenching standards are among OSHA’s most publicized, with strict rules enforced on projects from smaller towns like Shelton and Monroe to major hubs such as New Haven and Hartford.

A Deadly New Canaan Incident Still Looms Large

The Stamford inspection follows a fatal trench collapse that happened late last year at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan.

That incident, on December 22, 2023, left one worker injured; the employee later died from those injuries.

Findings from the New Canaan Trench Collapse

In the New Canaan case, OSHA found Sound Construction exposed five workers to hazardous conditions in a trench more than 12 feet deep without proper cave-in protection.

The agency also determined that:

Excavators were positioned too close to trench edges, adding weight and vibration that can destabilize trench walls.

The company failed to verify the location of underground utilities before digging, increasing the risk of strikes, explosions, or service disruptions.

For that earlier incident, OSHA issued two willful and five serious violations with proposed penalties totaling $394,083.

As part of a settlement, Sound Construction agreed to submit monthly lists of active worksites and permit random OSHA inspections—a level of oversight you don’t see often unless there’s a significant compliance history.

Pattern of Violations Spanning Multiple Connecticut Communities

OSHA’s latest action isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Regulators point to a broader pattern that stretches back nearly a decade and crosses municipal lines from Easton and Trumbull to Stamford and New Canaan.

Prior Trumbull Case Shows Ongoing Safety Concerns

Federal officials say Sound Construction was also cited in 2016 for trench safety violations at a job site in Trumbull.

Details of that older case weren’t fully described in the latest announcement, but OSHA highlighted it as more evidence of a repeated failure to comply with excavation safety standards.

What This Means for Workers and Contractors in Connecticut

If you’re a construction worker, this case really highlights how important it is to speak up about unsafe trenches. Deep excavations and heavy equipment can get risky fast.

Contractors, take note—OSHA expects you to follow the rules closely, including:

Training everyone on excavation hazards.

Making sure trench shields or cave-in protections get installed right.

Having a competent person inspect the site every day.

Checking for underground utilities before digging starts.

Folks in New Canaan, Stamford, Trumbull, and Hartford are all watching. Will these tougher penalties finally make Connecticut’s trenches safer? Guess we’ll see.

Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut contractor cited in worker’s death faces fines for new violations, OSHA says

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