Dubose Construction Co. LLC of Mt. Meigs, Alabama has been cited by OSHA for exposing its workers to potential cave-in hazards while they were relocating a water valve in Montgomery. Proposed penalties total $46,970.

The willful safety violation – for plain indifference of intential disregard for employee safety and health – is for having employees work in an unprotected trench more than 7 feet deep. That citation carries a proposed penalty of $46,000.

"The lack of cave-in protection at this worksite leaves Dubose Construction employees at risk of injury or death," said Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA's area director in Mobile. "Trenching and excavation contractors must abide by OSHA's construction standards to ensure their employees are protected while digging trenches." OSHA standards require that all trenches and excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse.

Dubose, which specializes in installing underground utilities, sewers and storm drain systems, also received one other-than-serious citation with a $770 penalty for not certifying the OSHA 300 log of work-related injuries and illnesses in 2008.