The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited El Paso Underground Construction for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards, after inspectors observed employees working in unsafe conditions.

OSHA inspectors visited a worksite and found employees were working in an unprotected trench. The company received citations for failing to provide employees with a safe way to enter and exit the trench, for failing to protect them against cave-ins, and for failing to train employees in safe work practices. They were cited four times in 2017 for failing to protect employees from trench collapse hazards.

The company was also placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which will subject them to more inspections.

“This company has once again put their employees at serious risk by failing to provide training and implement required trenching protections,” said OSHA Area Office Director Diego Alvarado in El Paso. “Unprotected trenches can be fatal and it is fortunate that no one was injured.”

Read the press release from OSHA here.