Mentor Trench Collapse: OSHA Investigation Reveals Violation of Safety Guidelines

MENTOR, OH — A preliminary investigation into the construction accident that killed one worker in Mentor has revealed that the trench wall that had collapsed was not properly reinforced, reported Cleveland.com.

"OSHA inspectors did not observe the use of a trench box or shoring material to help protect the workers from cave-ins," Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Scott Allen told Cleveland.com Wednesday.

Alexander J. Marcotte, 28, died when a trench caved in on him while working to repair a water main on Heisley Road, city officials told Patch. Marcotte was an employee of Ohio Aqua, the sole water provider to the city of Mentor.

Federal guidelines require that any trench deeper than four feet must be reinforced using a shoring method or a trench box, Allen told the website.

The workers were repairing the water line in relation to the Heisley Road widening project. The project will widen Heisley Road from two lanes to four lanes between Mentor Avenue and Jackson Street. Construction on the project was scheduled to resume Wednesday, officials said.

Aqua Ohio will also be conducting an internal investigation in addition to working with OSHA's investigation.

“We are tremendously saddened at the death of our valued team member,” said Aqua Ohio President Ed Kolodziej in a press release. “We extend our most heartfelt sympathies to the employee’s loved ones.”

The OSHA is still continuing its investigation, which could take up six months. Allen did not say whether or not Aqua Ohio would be cited for the accident.