Plumbing Companies Fined for Serious Safety Violations
Smelly Melâs Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing was fined $529,640 for safety violations after serious injuries to a construction worker during a trench collapse.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has cited Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing with $529,640 in proposed penalties for multiple safety violations that led to serious injuries following a trench collapse in San Mateo on August 1, 2024.
Cal/OSHA identified 16 violations, evenly split between the two businesses. The agency cited both companies for two willful, serious accident-related violations, meaning they were aware of the hazards, had prior warnings, and still failed to take corrective action.
“Trench collapses remain one of the most serious hazards in construction, and employers must take all necessary steps to protect their employees,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee. “These citations serve as a reminder that businesses must prioritize worker safety, especially during high-risk operations, to avoid tragic accidents.”
Incident Overview
On August 1, 2024, a crew was performing sewer line work at a private residence in San Mateo when the trench walls collapsed. A worker was buried under debris, sustaining serious injuries that required hospitalization.
Key Safety Violations
Among the citations issued, significant safety lapses included:
- Failure to conduct inspections â Employers did not ensure that a competent person conducted daily trench inspections to detect hazardous conditions, such as cave-ins.
- Lack of safe exit routes â No ladder or other safe means of exiting the approximately 9-foot, 3-inch-deep trench was provided.
- Inadequate protective systems â Employers did not provide shoring, shielding, sloping, or benching to prevent trench collapse.
- Failure to protect workers from falling debris â Employers did not safeguard workers from excavated materials or equipment that could fall into the trench.
- Insufficient foot protection â A worker using a jackhammer was exposed to potential foot injuries due to a lack of proper protective equipment.
- Emergency medical preparedness failures â There were not enough trained personnel on-site to render first aid.
- Permit violations â The companies did not notify Cal/OSHA before beginning a permit-required excavation exceeding five feet in depth.
- Injury and illness prevention failures â Employers did not conduct mandatory toolbox safety meetings during the project.
For more information on workplace safety and excavation regulations, visit Cal/OSHA’s website: Cal/OSHA.
