La Grange Park construction company fined $42K for alleged safety violation

A west suburban contractor faces $42,000 in fines for allegedly not protecting a worker in a trench from potential cave-in hazards, federal workplace safety officials said.

On Jan. 16, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected Suburban General Construction Inc.’s worksite at 1515 Lathrop Ave. in River Forest after witnessing a worker exposed to trenching hazards, according to an OSHA release.

An investigation found that the employee was performing repair work on a water service line, and that cave-in protections should have been in place, the statement said.

“Unprotected trenches can become gravesites in seconds. Violations of OSHA’s trench protection standards remain a pervasive condition in this industry and it needs to stop,” said Angeline Loftus, OSHA’s area director at its Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. “No worker’s life should be at risk for a job.”

Suburban General Construction, based in La Grange Park, is facing $42,350 in proposed penalties, the statement said.