CMD Endeavors faces $260K in penalties after being cited six times for similar violations
Tragedy Strikes Due to Negligence
In February 2024, a 37-year-old employee working for an El Paso contractor tragically lost his life in a preventable incident. This fatality, caused by a trench collapse, could have been averted if federally mandated safety standards had been adhered to. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited CMD Endeavors Inc. for similar safety violations six times since 2015, yet the contractor failed to take corrective action.
Details of the Incident
OSHA’s investigation revealed that the employee, a pipe layer, was working in an unprotected excavation site. The trench collapsed, causing a piece of asphalt to fall and severely injure the worker, who later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. CMD Endeavors was performing pipework for the Cedar Grove Waterline Replacement project, a key component of El Paso’s ongoing infrastructure initiative.
A History of Non-Compliance
“Despite repeated citations and warnings about the dangers of unprotected trenches, CMD Endeavors has ignored the hazards for nearly a decade, and now an employee has lost their life,” said OSHA Area Director Diego Alvarado, Jr. in El Paso, Texas. “Rather than protecting its workers from this workplace hazard, the company did nothing to prevent this tragedy and leaves a family, friends, and co-workers to grieve a needless loss.”
Violations and Penalties
OSHA issued citations to CMD Endeavors for several violations:
- One Willful Violation: Deliberately failing to provide adequate systems to prevent trench cave-ins.
- One Serious Violation: Allowing hazardous conditions that could cause significant injury or death.
- Two Repeat Violations: Failing to stop nearby materials from falling into the trench and not ensuring a trench exit within 25 feet.
In total, CMD Endeavors faces $260,848 in proposed penalties.
Company Profile
Established in 2009, CMD Endeavors Inc. is a general contractor specializing in heavy construction, earthwork, site-work, and water and wastewater utility infrastructure projects. The company serves clients across West Texas and Southern New Mexico, offering services to both public and private sectors.
