Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2):The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury. The employer does not ensure that employees receive adequate training to recognize and avoid the hazards associated with working in and around trenches and excavations. Location: 103 West Broad Street, Stamford, CT Instance #2 This violation was most recently observed on or about June 13, 2025, where the employer did not ensure that employees working in a 10-foot-deep unprotected excavation were adequately trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with cave-in hazards while working in and around excavations. Employees were exposed to cave-in hazards while working in unprotected areas of an excavation and within a trench shield that was installed approximately four-feet below the surface of the excavation and not back-filled. The employees were also exposed to cave-in and crushing hazards as the President operated the excavator at the edge of the excavation above them. OSHA previously issued this employer a serious citation for a violation of this standard, 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) during inspection #1718126, with a final order date of 2/27/2025. The inspection was opened due to an employee fatality. To abate this violation, the employer must provide adequate trenching and excavation training for all employees and competent person training for designated competent persons. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps they are taking to ensure compliance; including an explanation of how these steps protect employees from trenching and excavation hazards.