Alabama Contractor Cited $115K After Worker Dies in Huntsville Trench Collapse
According to Equipment World, OSHA has proposed fines totaling $115,855 against Alabama contractor Breland Homes Inc. following eight cited violations connected to the death of a worker in a Huntsville trench collapse last December.
Citation Record and What OSHA Found
Enrique Chub-Cao, 45, was buried in a cave-in at approximately 2:30 p.m. on December 15 while working on a drainage project for a new residential neighborhood in Huntsville. OSHA cited Breland Homes with serious violations including failure to provide proper cave-in protection, use of a damaged ladder for trench access and egress, workers on site without hard hats, and failure to train workers on trenching hazards.
Breland Homes has 15 days to appeal the citations. In a statement to Huntsville TV station WAFF 48, the company said: “We are devastated by the tragic death of one of our underground utility installers yesterday. Our prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The case is the second OSHA trench enforcement action against an Alabama contractor in 2026. In January, OSHA issued proposed penalties of $170,145 against Birmingham-based CB&A Construction LLC following a trench collapse on August 8 in Bessemer, where workers were removing and installing drainpipes for Jefferson County. CB&A’s fines were later reduced to $156,574 on appeal.
What It Means for Subcontractors
For excavation and utility subcontractors, these two Alabama cases in quick succession are a clear signal that OSHA trench enforcement is active and costly.
- Cave-in protection is non-negotiable. OSHA cited the absence of proper protection as a serious violation. Trenches require shoring, sloping, or a trench box before workers enter, regardless of project size or schedule pressure.
- Inspect your equipment before every shift. A damaged ladder cited as a violation shows that defective access equipment creates separate liability exposure on top of the underlying hazard.
- Training documentation matters. Failure to train workers on trenching hazards was a cited violation. Written training records give you a defensible position if OSHA shows up.
- Hard hat compliance is table stakes. PPE violations were part of the citation record. Supervisors need to enforce PPE requirements consistently across every crew on site.
- Fines are negotiable but the process costs you. CB&A’s fines dropped from $170,145 to $156,574 after appeal, but appeals take time and legal resources. Getting the job site right the first time is cheaper.
