Cal/OSHA Assesses $212K in Penalties After Fatal California Tunnel Collapse

Cal/OSHA cited two employers with $212,500 following a tunnel collapse near that killed one worker and seriously injured another.

The agency said both employers failed to provide adequate ground support to protect employees working in the tunnel in Knights Ferry, California.

The April 14 collapse occurred 200 feet inside the Canyon Tunnel construction project, trapping two workers. Twyla Capurro, a 35-year-old geologist, suffered fatal injuries, while another worker was seriously injured.

The 12,000-foot-long irrigation water diversion tunnel, designed by Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group Inc., was being built by Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring Inc. for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.

According to Cal/OSHA, both employers allowed work to proceed without removing or adequately supporting dangerous ground, and they failed to securely support the tunnel section where employees were working.

California’s tunnel safety standards require someone to inspect underground work areas and ground support systems upon initial entry and frequently afterward. Dangerous ground must be removed or supported before other work proceeds, and underground workplaces must be securely supported.

Cal/OSHA issued the citations to:

• Antioch-based Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring: faces $95,000 in proposed penalties for one serious accident-related ground control violation and one willful-serious accident-related tunnel support violation.
• Clovis-based Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group: faces $117,500 in proposed penalties for one serious training violation, one serious accident-related ground control violation and one willful-serious accident-related tunnel support violation.

Provost & Pritchard has appealed the citations. Employers have 15 working days after receiving notification to appeal citations and proposed penalties.

Topics California Workers' Compensation