ConDig (12-May-17).  California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has fined two companies a total of $352,570 after a worker fell 50-foot to his death in October while cleaning out a drainage shaft.

The administration said that neither D&D Construction Specialties, Inc or Tyler Development, Inc followed the correct protocols for working in confined spaces and cited ten serious and three willful category violations.

General contractor Tyler Development was constructing a single-family residence in the Bel Air area and hired subcontractor D&D Construction to install and service reinforced concrete posts, known as caissons1, on the property.

A D&D Construction worker entered the drainage shaft, which was 4.5-feet in diameter and lined with concrete, on a buck attached to a crane to clean out mud and debris. He lost consciousness due to the oxygen deficient atmosphere after descending 10 feet and then fell about 40 feet and drowned in one foot of water.

“Cal/OSHA launched a confined space educational program to bring attention to the dangers and preventable deaths that occur in confined spaces,” said Cal/OSHA chief Juliann Sum.

“The program helps employers identify hazards and create effective safety plans that include air monitoring, rescue procedures and training before work begins.”