Feds Fine Warminster Company For Workplace Hazards

WARMINSTER, PA — A company based in Warminster has been fined by the federal Department of Labor after being accused of exposing employees to hazards on a work site in Philadelphia.

The department announced Tuesday that Etna Construction, Inc. was fined $208,560 in penalties for exposing the workers to excavation hazards.

According to the department, OSHA found that the company failed to install protection systems inside an excavation area, provide a safe means for workers to exit the area and instruct employees on how to recognize excavation hazards.

The company also failed to make sure employees wore hard hats to prevent injuries and didn't properly guard reinforced steel in the area, the labor department said in a news release.

"Employees can be seriously or fatally injured in a matter of seconds when a trench collapses," said OSHA Philadelphia Area Office Director Theresa Downs. "Trench-related injuries are preventable when employees are trained properly and the required protections are in place."

According to the release, the company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe workplaces for their employees.