1926.651 Excavation Safety: citations, penalties and recently cited employers
Data as of October 5, 2026 · citations issued Oct 5, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026
This section sets jobsite requirements for excavations and trenches, apart from cave-in protective systems. Employers must locate underground utilities before digging, provide stairways, ladders, or ramps in trenches 4 feet or deeper, test for hazardous atmospheres, keep spoil piles back from the edge, and protect workers from water accumulation. A competent person must inspect excavations daily and after events like rainstorms.
What the standard requires
- Determine and mark underground utility locations before digging
- Provide safe egress within 25 feet of workers in trenches 4 feet or deeper
- Keep spoil and equipment at least 2 feet from the edge
- Test atmospheres where oxygen deficiency or hazardous gases may exist
- Have a competent person inspect excavations daily
Hazards it addresses
- Cave-ins and burial
- Strikes on buried utility lines
- Hazardous atmospheres in trenches
- Falling loads and spoil
Cited in utility installation, sewer and water line work, and site development.
Plain-language summary written for this site; it is not the regulatory text and not legal advice. Read the official text at eCFR.
Citations by month
Inspections with citations issued, by month of issuance. Hatched months are incomplete: citations reach the public data about a month after issuance.
Most-cited paragraphs
| Paragraph | What it covers | Items | Inspections | Median initial penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926.651(c)(2) | Trenches 4 feet or more deep must have a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other egress within 25 feet of lateral travel. | 230 | 213 | $4,965 |
| 1926.651(k)(1) | A competent person must perform daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems. | 199 | 199 | $3,310 |
| 1926.651(j)(2) | Materials and equipment must be kept at least 2 feet from the edge or retained to prevent falling in. | 158 | 157 | $3,524 |
| 1926.651(k)(2) | 40 | 40 | $4,114 | |
| 1926.651(j)(1) | 30 | 30 | $3,972 | |
| 1926.651(e) | 23 | 23 | $5,958 | |
| 1926.651(h)(1) | 23 | 23 | $4,965 | |
| 1926.651(i)(3) | 20 | 20 | $9,221 | |
| 1926.651(b)(4) | 13 | 13 | $4,900 | |
| 1926.651(i)(1) | 11 | 11 | $4,965 | |
| 1926.651(b)(1) | Estimated locations of underground utilities must be determined before opening an excavation. | 10 | 10 | $1,500 |
| 1926.651(d) | 10 | 10 | $3,098 | |
| 1926.651(b)(3) | 9 | 9 | $120 | |
| 1926.651(l) | 4 | 4 | $6,350 | |
| 1926.651(a) | 3 | 3 | $700 |
Penalties
Across 800 alleged items, OSHA and state-plan offices proposed $7,271,821 in initial penalties. The current total in the public data is $6,187,678, 15% lower after settlements, contests and amendments.
By violation type: Serious 77%; Other-than-serious 16%; Repeat 4%; Willful 2%.
Citations by state
| State | Inspections cited | Items | Initial penalties | Current penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 25 | 31 | $62,513 | $59,605 |
| Texas | 25 | 36 | $524,564 | $354,902 |
| Pennsylvania | 24 | 37 | $115,777 | $110,129 |
| Virginia | 24 | 42 | $304,845 | $278,095 |
| Illinois | 23 | 38 | $217,754 | $155,178 |
| Colorado | 22 | 47 | $312,111 | $221,552 |
| Ohio | 22 | 32 | $283,599 | $197,811 |
| North Carolina | 20 | 33 | $145,975 | $128,273 |
| Florida | 19 | 37 | $242,133 | $171,461 |
| Tennessee | 19 | 32 | $253,400 | $249,400 |
| New York | 18 | 30 | $71,925 | $66,445 |
| Kentucky | 16 | 38 | $175,000 | $151,260 |
| South Dakota | 14 | 27 | $49,178 | $28,658 |
| Maryland | 13 | 26 | $20,275 | $17,636 |
| Minnesota | 13 | 19 | $32,400 | $28,580 |
| New Jersey | 12 | 20 | $152,121 | $100,254 |
| Arizona | 11 | 23 | $361,565 | $361,565 |
| Connecticut | 11 | 20 | $609,362 | $431,660 |
| Georgia | 11 | 14 | $80,341 | $60,346 |
| Massachusetts | 9 | 34 | $2,163,983 | $2,150,973 |
By industry
- Construction: 422 inspections
- Administrative & waste services: 12 inspections
- Utilities: 11 inspections
- Other services: 3 inspections
- Arts, entertainment & recreation: 2 inspections
- Public administration: 2 inspections
- Real estate & rental: 2 inspections
- Professional & technical services: 2 inspections
Recently cited establishments
About these records. Citations list alleged violations and proposed penalties. Employers can contest them, and many are reduced or withdrawn in settlement. Each row shows the original and the current penalty and a status label derived from the public data as of October 5, 2026. Check the linked osha.gov page for the official record.
| Establishment | Location | Issued | Alleged items | Initial penalty | Current penalty | Status and deadlines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonawanda Town Water & Sewer Department | Tonawanda, NY | Sep 2, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Truluck Construction Inc. | Summerville, SC | Sep 1, 2026 | 2 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Status not determinableAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Norris Bros. Excavating LLC | La Follette, TN | Aug 31, 2026 | 3 | $135,000 | $135,000 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 14, 2026Contested Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Sanvilla Concrete LLC | Kailua, HI | Aug 26, 2026 | 2 | $13,240 | $13,240 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Jerry T. Whitmire Grading, Inc. | Fletcher, NC | Aug 26, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 31, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Williams and Sons Excavating LLC | Marysville, OH | Aug 26, 2026 | 2 | $27,804 | $27,804 | OpenAbatement due Sep 15, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 17, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Name withheld (individual) | Boulder, CO | Aug 25, 2026 | 2 | $7,944 | $7,944 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 21, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Trine Construction Corp. | Highland Park, IL | Aug 25, 2026 | 1 | $6,620 | $4,634 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| BDG Property LLC | Portland, OR | Aug 21, 2026 | 3 | $9,111 | $9,111 | Final order | osha.gov |
| EJR Services, Inc. | Palatine, IL | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $2,270 | $1,000 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Cameron & Company, Inc. | Whitewater, CO | Aug 21, 2026 | 5 | $12,830 | $5,300 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Wells Excavating LLC | Whitewater, CO | Aug 21, 2026 | 5 | $0 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 28, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Best Plumbing of Mt. Calvary, LLC | Elkhart Lake, WI | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $0 | $0 | OpenAbatement due Sep 21, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| D & R Civil Construction Inc. | Brooksville, FL | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | OpenAbatement due Sep 17, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 14, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Elite Grading, LLC | Hixson, TN | Aug 21, 2026 | 1 | $800 | $800 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| M.H.S. LLC | Independence, MO | Aug 21, 2026 | 3 | $14,895 | $14,895 | ContestedContested Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
| S3 Construction, LLC | Ada, OK | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $1,809 | $1,809 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 11, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Montana Construction Corp. Inc. | Wood Ridge, NJ | Aug 20, 2026 | 1 | $6,809 | $6,809 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 11, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Maronda Homes of Cincinnati LLC | Rabbit Hash, KY | Aug 19, 2026 | 2 | $12,600 | $12,600 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 24, 2026Contested Sep 10, 2026 | osha.gov |
| G Cam Ltd. | Donald, OR | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $120 | $120 | Final order | osha.gov |
| Anderson Heating and Cooling | Willoughby, OH | Aug 18, 2026 | 2 | $9,268 | $4,634 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| B Jackson Construction and Engineering, LLC | Colorado Springs, CO | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $13,240 | $5,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| R D Construction, LLC | San Antonio, TX | Aug 18, 2026 | 2 | $4,540 | $2,400 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Finsterwald Irrigation and Landscape Services, Limited | Colorado Springs, CO | Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | $9,268 | $5,000 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 23, 2026 | osha.gov |
| J W Harris Contractors Inc. | Wesley Chapel, FL | Aug 17, 2026 | 2 | $6,810 | $6,810 | OpenAbatement due Aug 27, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 8, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| United General Construction LLC | Sunland Park, NM | Aug 17, 2026 | 2 | $9,932 | $9,932 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 11, 2026Contested Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Armada Poured Walls LLC | Rabbit Hash, KY | Aug 14, 2026 | 2 | $7,000 | $7,000 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 18, 2026Contested Aug 24, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Scherber Roll-Offs LLC dba T Scherber Demo - Excav | South Saint Paul, MN | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | ContestedAbatement due Aug 18, 2026Contested Sep 4, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati Inc. | Cincinnati, OH | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $0 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Paragon Site Solutions, LLC | Concord, NC | Aug 14, 2026 | 3 | $16,000 | $16,000 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 18, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Des Moines Excavating, LLC | Des Moines, IA | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $4,965 | $4,965 | OpenAbatement due Sep 10, 2026Contest deadline ~Sep 4, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| Danbert, Inc. | Columbus, OH | Aug 14, 2026 | 1 | $8,511 | $8,511 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 3, 2026 | osha.gov |
| JP Contractors Inc. | Enfield, CT | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $11,916 | $11,916 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 29, 2026Contested Aug 25, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Harper Brothers Construction LLC | Erie, CO | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $28,373 | $28,373 | Informal settlementAbatement due Sep 8, 2026 | osha.gov |
| F&S Excavating | Gallatin, MO | Aug 12, 2026 | 1 | $3,547 | $2,128 | Informal settlement | osha.gov |
| Paramount Realty Services Incorporated | Enfield, CT | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $23,170 | $23,170 | ContestedAbatement due Sep 29, 2026Contested Aug 26, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Evans Excavating LLC | Missoula, MT | Aug 12, 2026 | 2 | $6,432 | $6,432 | OpenContest deadline ~Sep 2, 2026 (est.) | osha.gov |
| New Mex Concrete LLC | Suffern, NY | Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | $3,972 | $3,972 | ContestedContested Sep 9, 2026 | osha.gov |
| Advanced Piping LLC | Excelsior, MN | Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | $1,650 | $1,650 | Final orderAbatement due Aug 14, 2026 | osha.gov |
| D&D Wood Sales, Inc. | Roaring Spring, PA | Aug 7, 2026 | 2 | $6,620 | $6,620 | Final orderAbatement due Sep 2, 2026 | osha.gov |
Often cited together
- 1926.652 Trench Cave-In Protection (332 shared inspections)
- 1926.21 Construction Safety Training (80 shared inspections)
- 1926.1053 Ladder Safety (48 shared inspections)
- 1926.100 Hard Hats (47 shared inspections)
- 1926.251 Rigging Equipment (11 shared inspections)
- 1926.50 Construction First Aid (11 shared inspections)
- 1926.20 Construction Safety Programs (11 shared inspections)
- 1926.1060 Ladder and Stair Training (8 shared inspections)
Questions
What does OSHA standard 1926.651 require?
This section sets jobsite requirements for excavations and trenches, apart from cave-in protective systems. Employers must locate underground utilities before digging, provide stairways, ladders, or ramps in trenches 4 feet or deeper, test for hazardous atmospheres, keep spoil piles back from the edge, and protect workers from water accumulation. A competent person must inspect excavations daily and after events like rainstorms.
How often was 1926.651 cited in the last 12 months?
In the public data as of October 5, 2026, 1926.651 (Excavation Safety) appeared in 463 inspections with citations issued between Oct 5, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026, covering 800 alleged violation items.
Which part of 1926.651 is cited most?
1926.651(c)(2) was the most-cited paragraph, with 230 items: Trenches 4 feet or more deep must have a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other egress within 25 feet of lateral travel.
Which states cite 1926.651 most often?
The most citations under 1926.651 in this period were issued in Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania.
What is the typical penalty for a 1926.651 violation?
The median initial (proposed) penalty per item was $3,972; the median current penalty after settlements and amendments was $2,942. Totals: $7,271,821 proposed, $6,187,678 current. Penalties vary by violation type, employer size and history, and State Plans set their own amounts.
Are 1926.651 citations final?
Not necessarily. A citation is an allegation until it becomes a final order. 21% of these items were contested, and many others were changed in settlements. Each listing shows its current status and a link to the official record.