Fatal Yarmouth Trench Collapse Costs Revoli Construction $4.6 Million and 57 Violations
BOSTON — A trench collapse that killed one worker and seriously injured another has brought down one of the largest penalties OSHA has proposed in recent memory. On April 1, 2026, the agency cited Revoli Construction Co. Inc. with 57 violations — seven willful, 33 repeat, and 17 serious — and assessed the Massachusetts water and sewer line contractor $4,699,362 in proposed penalties.
The Incident
On November 18, 2025, Revoli workers were removing sandy soil and installing steel plates outside a trench at a Yarmouth worksite. While they worked, the backfilled sand collapsed and trapped two workers inside the trench. One worker was engulfed and sustained fatal injuries.
Sandy, backfilled soil is among the least stable material a crew can dig in — precisely the conditions where cave-in protection is non-negotiable.
The Violations
OSHA’s investigation read like a checklist of everything that can go wrong in excavation work. The agency cited Revoli for failing to provide workers a safe way to exit the trench, lack of adequate cave-in protection, unsupported underground utilities, spoil piles kept within two feet of the excavation’s edge, neglecting to install a shoring system per its design, and using a damaged protective system. Investigators also found workers exposed to numerous electrical and fall hazards.
The 33 repeat violations tell the real story: this employer had been cited before and kept digging the same way. That is the kind of pattern that makes taking shortcuts a company culture rather than a one-off mistake.
OSHA’s Stance
“This cave-in is a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored. Through our trench safety initiatives, the Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring every worker returns home safe at the end of the day,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “We will continue holding employers accountable and providing resources dedicated to hazard training and required engineering controls to put a stop to these preventable tragedies.”
Revoli has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Lessons to Take Home
A cubic yard of soil weighs as much as a small car, and a collapsing trench gives no warning. Before anyone enters an excavation, verify the protective system matches its design, keep spoil piles back from the edge, and confirm there’s a ladder or ramp within reach. Just as important: give every worker the standing authority to refuse to enter a trench that doesn’t look right — and secure the site so no one wanders into the hazard zone.
Empower your crew to speak up before the ground gives way with our talk on stop work authority.
