HETTINGER EXCAVATING, LLC

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, HETTINGER EXCAVATING, LLC — a power and communication line and related structures construction facility located at 3RD STREET AND SW MURRAY, LEES SUMMIT, MO 64081 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 7 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $21,140.00. The inspection case was opened on 2019-04-24.

DOL records document workplace safety violations warranting formal citation under the OSH Act. While classified at the standard enforcement level, all OSHA citations require corrective action and may indicate areas where workplace safety programs should be strengthened.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 2.8 per 100 full-time workers — 4% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 9.6 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $21,140.00 is more than 5.9× the national average of $3,609.14 for facilities in the Construction sector (NAICS 237130). This sector encompasses 532,749 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $1,922.8M.

State Context: Within MO, this facility's penalty places it at the 98th percentile among 41,963 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $2,902.40.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 7 citations spanning 3 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 2 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. 5 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning July 22, 2019 with the latest abatement deadline set for February 10, 2020. Of the 7 total citations, 0 (0%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, which may indicate ongoing compliance gaps requiring further regulatory attention.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $21,140.00 reflects OSHA's gravity-based penalty calculation methodology, which considers the severity of potential injury, the probability of occurrence, the employer's size, good faith, and violation history. The per-citation average of $3,020.00 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement record for Hettinger Excavating, LLC, reveals a profile of high-risk operational negligence centered almost exclusively on trenching and excavation safety. The concentration of Serious violations under the 1926.651 and 1926.652 standards indicates a systemic failure to implement fundamental cave-in protections. Specifically, the citations for inadequate egress (1926.651(i)(3)), failure to protect workers from loose rock or soil (1926.651(j)(1)), and deficiencies in protective system design (1926.652(d)(2)) suggest that the employer allowed personnel to work in hazardous trenches without verified shoring, shielding, or sloping. From a compliance standpoint, the gravity ratings of 10 for multiple items underscore the immediate life-safety threat posed by these conditions, as trench collapses are frequently fatal. The penalty total of $21,140 is significant for a specialty trade contractor in NAICS 237130, reflecting OSHA’s intent to penalize a cluster of hazards rather than a single isolated lapse. The inclusion of a Hazard Communication violation (1910.1200(e)(1)) further points to a lack of a comprehensive safety management program. Ultimately, the data paints a picture of a firm that bypassed critical engineering controls and site inspections, creating an environment where a catastrophic trench entrapment was a statistical probability rather than a remote risk. This pattern necessitates a total overhaul of the firm’s "competent person" training and field oversight protocols.