US Department of Labor investigation finds Alabama construction company exposed workers to trenching hazards following fatal incident

News Release

US Department of Labor investigation finds Alabama construction company exposed workers to trenching hazards following fatal incident

HUNTSVILLE, AL - The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Huntsville-based home builder with eight serious safety violations after an investigation into a worker's fatality in December 2025 found the employer exposed construction workers to multiple safety hazards during groundwork prep.

Investigators with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned that workers for Breland Homes Inc. were installing a sewage drainpipe in a Madison County subdivision when a trench collapsed on a construction laborer.

OSHA concluded that Breland Homes had allowed the decedent to work in an unprotected and unsupported section of the trench. In addition, OSHA found multiple safety violations, including failure to train workers to recognize unsafe conditions in trenching, allowing workers to conduct duties without protective helmets, and permitting employees to conduct work with a damaged ladder.

OSHA cited Breland Homes Inc. with eight serious violations and proposed $115,855 in penalties.

Breland Homes Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status.

OSHA's trenching and excavation webpage includes information on standard requirements, hazard recognition, and controlling safety hazards. Employers can contact the agency for information about OSHA's compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.