Two workers died in a trench in Boston last year because their employer failed to take basic stopes to prevent the trench from collapsing, according to OSHA, which cited the company for 18 safety violations. Fines aren’t the only consequence of the double fatality; a Suffolk County grand jury has indicted Atlantic Drain and company owner, Kevin Otto, on two counts each of manslaughter and other charges in connection with the Oct. 21, 2016 deaths.
Robert Higgins and Kelvin Mattocks died when the approximately 12-foot deep trench in which they were working collapsed, breaking an adjacent fire hydrant supply line and filling the trench with water in a matter of seconds.