An Illinois business owner has been taken into custody after his business failed to correct serious trenching hazards and pay Occupational Safety and Health Administration penalties. The case illustrates the personal risk to business owners and executives who neglect occupational health and safety legislation.
An April 2013 statement from OSHA said that the business owner had been cited for “seven safety violations, including three willful, for failing to protect workers from cave-ins and moving soil and chunks of asphalt during trenching operations.”
A U.S. judge granted a motion filed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor against the owner, a sewer and water contractor. OSHA states the business owner had a “long history of failing to comply with OSHA standards and orders of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission”.
OSHA reports that the court had previously issued an enforcement order against the owner and when he failed to comply, the court held him in contempt. Then, after receiving no response from the owner, the court granted the Secretary of Labor’s motion to take “coercive actions”, ordering him placed into the custody of the Attorney General.
OSHA says that the owner will remain in custody until he has either fully complied with the court’s enforcement order or demonstrated that he is unable to comply.
OHSA’s statement on this matter may be read here.
