Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004 Hazard:

29 CFR 1926.50(f)(2)(i): When working remotely, the employer did not ensure that the communication system is effective in contacting the emergency-medical services. (a) Location - Jobsite at 6 Twin Circle Drive, Arlington MA On or about 09/10/2023, the employer did not ensure proper access to emergency medical services at the jobsite. The employer instructed employees to enter a trench/excavation at the jobsite despite an employee raised safety concerns about the trench/excavation. After the work started, the employer left employees alone at the jobsite and did not provide a means for the employees, who spoke minimal English, to communicate with emergency medical services. When the trench/excavation caved-in on and injured and partially buried an employee, the employee called the employer to ask for help, but the employer did not contact emergency medical services or return with urgency to the jobsite to help. The employee later attempted to call 911 for help, but the employer arrived at the jobsite soon after and took the phone away from the employee and his coworkers before they could request emergency medical services. The employer then physically struck the trapped employee with objects while the employee was still in the trench/excavation to stop the employee from alerting anyone to the cave-in and need for rescue and medical attention.