Labor Department: Worker injured and buried at Warwick worksite

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The United States Department of Labor is accusing a Boston-based waterproofing contractor of endangering the safety of its employees at worksites in Warwick, R.I. and Arlington, Mass.

A Boston Waterproofing and Construction Corp. supervisor is accused of recruiting untrained day laborers and placing them in unprotected excavations where collapses happened at both the Warwick and Arlington sites.

The collapses allegedly injured and buried a worker at each location.

At the Warwick site, the trapped employee asked the supervisor to call 911 and for transport to a hospital but the request was rejected.

The worker was removed from the excavation without proper medical equipment and was then dropped off in a personal vehicle at an urgent care facility where they were left, according to the Department of Labor.

OSHA determined while inspecting the Warwick site that the supervisor caused significant damage at the work site and did not fix it or take responsibility.

It is alleged that the supervisor lied to and threatened the homeowner after the homeowner pointed out the damage.

The company was cited for willful and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, including not having a competent person inspect both excavations and not providing access to emergency medical services and transportation at the Warwick site.

They were also cited for lack of cave-in protection and training for the new employees.

A total of $451,694 in penalties was proposed by OSHA, or $225,847 for each inspection.