2 workers dead, company has history of OSHA violations

BOSTON — Two workers are dead after a trench unexpectedly flooded in the South End Friday.

A person with the private company Atlantic Drain said that both of the workers were family men and great employees.

They were working on Dartmouth Street Friday afternoon when witnesses said suddenly there was water everywhere.

"They were totally frantic and just screaming and hollering, there were three or four men crowded in the manhole cover at first then once the water started getting out of hand, they were all completely covered in water, they backed away and were waiting for help," said witness Julie Bellino.

According to its website, the company was established in 1978 and in a drain cleaning company, doing both commercial and residential projects.

The company has a history of OSHA violations, FOX25 has found, going back over the last 10 years. 

Since 2007, Atlantic has been cited for:

• 16 "serious" violations
• Six "repeat" violations
• Two "willful" violations

Most of the violations are related to "underground construction and "safety training and education."

On OSHA's Trenching and Excavation Fact Sheet page, it says it never enter an unprotected trench.

The business has a balance of  $95,750 for OSHA penalties, for which it has been referred to debt collectors.

According to OSHA, the company has two "willful" violations involving cases in 2007 and 2012.

At least one of the company's violations pertains to an OSHA regulation, which states, "each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with [a provided guide.]"

FOX25 reached out to Atlantic Drain Service Company about the past penalties, but they refused to comment.

Cox Media Group