Trench Collapse Kills One, Injures Another in Massachusetts. A Preventable Tragedy and a Call for Better Worksite Safety in New York.
A Massachusetts construction worker is dead, another seriously injured, and a contractor now faces nearly $4.7 million in proposed OSHA penalties after a trench collapse in Yarmouth last November. This incident is a stark reminder that excavation work remains one of the most dangerous jobs in construction. Basic safety protections save lives.
At HSE Consulting Services, we provide occupational worksite trainings and assessments to help employers across New York avoid tragedies like this. From Syracuse to Binghamton and throughout the state, we work with contractors, utilities, and municipal crews to keep workers safe. Here is what happened, what OSHA found, and how you can protect your team.
What Happened in Yarmouth Can Happen Anywhere
On November 18, 2025, workers from Revoli Construction Co. Inc. were removing sandy soil and installing steel plates outside a trench. The backfilled sand collapsed and trapped two workers. One worker was engulfed and died. The other survived but was seriously hurt. Both should have gone home that night.
OSHA's Findings
OSHA found multiple failures including no safe way to exit the trench, no adequate cave in protection, unsupported utilities, spoil piles within two feet of the excavation, failure to install a shoring system as designed, a damaged protective system, and electrical and fall hazards.
The agency issued 7 willful citations, 33 repeat citations, and 17 serious violations. Proposed penalties totaled $4,699,362.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez DeRemer said, "This cave in is a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored."
Every single one of these violations was preventable.
Why This Matters for New York Worksites
Trench hazards don't care about state lines. Soil in New York can be just as unstable, from the glacial till near Syracuse to the river silt in Binghamton. A cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car. When a trench collapses, there is almost no time to react.
OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation is active nationwide, including across New York's Region 2. Contractors in Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, and the Hudson Valley have all been cited in recent years for trench safety violations. If OSHA showed up on your site tomorrow, would you pass?
How HSE Consulting Services Can Help
We help you prevent these incidents. HSE Consulting Services specializes in occupational worksite trainings and assessments. We come to your site anywhere in New York, review your excavation and trenching practices, and find gaps before they become citations or a fatality.
Our services include on site trenching and excavation safety assessments, competent person training, worksite safety audits, and customized safety programs. We are safety professionals. Our job is to make sure every worker on your site in Syracuse, Binghamton, or anywhere else in New York goes home at the end of the day.
A Simple Call to Action
You do not need to wait for an OSHA inspection or a tragedy to act. If your crews work in or around trenches, excavations, or confined spaces, reach out to us today.
Contact Us Today To Start Your Occupational Safety Plan!
