Officials: No permits obtained for work at site where trench collapsed

Officials are now turning their attention to accountability, oversight and possible safety violations.

While the dramatic rescue overnight in Charleroi brought relief, questions remain about how a trench collapse on McKean Avenue was allowed to happen.

Officials are now turning their attention to accountability, oversight, and possible safety violations.

Permits missing

The trench was dug by a private contractor hired by Davies Ford to help repair a clogged sewer line.

But according to Charleroi Borough Manager Joe Manning, the contractor never obtained the required sidewalk excavation permit.

PennDOT also confirmed no Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) was filed, despite the work taking place on Route 88, a state-owned road.

Davies Ford owner Jim Davies said he hired Frontier Heating & Cooling of Monessen to address a clogged sewer line.

The company had worked for him before on smaller jobs.

This time, Davies said, the project may have been more than they could handle.

“They started about a week ago, but the clog kept pushing closer to the main,” Davies said. “I can’t comment on permits, but the company is insured and handled PA1 calls ahead of the work. I am sure PennDOT, OSHA and the borough will follow through and get to the bottom of it. From my perspective, that man walked out of there alive and that is what’s most important.”

Manning admitted the lack of a street opening permit may have slipped through borough oversight, partly because several utilities and contractors have been working in the same area.

“I hate to say that, but there is a lot going on in the borough,” Manning said. “It’s not a difficult process to ensure permitting, but in this case it slipped through the radar.”

On Thursday morning — hours before the collapse — Columbia Gas notified Manning that the trench was interfering with their work.

Manning said he contacted the Authority of the Borough of Charleroi, learned it was a private project, and confirmed no street opening permit had been issued.

Public works officials instructed the company that they would need to obtain a permit before work could continue.

“They agreed and apologized, and later that day something terrible like this happens,” Manning said.

OSHA investigation

Charleroi Fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a full investigation.

Inspectors arrived on scene Thursday night and stayed into Friday morning.

Under federal standards, trenching and excavation work must include wall protection, safe entry and exit, and daily inspections. Violations can result in steep fines — up to $16,550 per violation for serious infractions and an additional $16,550 per day until abatement.

Whiten told OSHA that the trapped worker had been operating without trench protection when the walls caved in.

“There was only him and the excavator when we got there — no walls, no boxes, nothing,” Whiten said. “He really put his life into his own hands. But no matter the circumstance, everyone is thankful he is OK.”

Whiten added that the open trench had been a concern before the collapse.

“This hole had been like that for three weeks,” he said. “Hardly any barriers or cones. I’m honestly surprised a car didn’t drive into it first before any of this happened.”

Local accountability

Under borough code, contractors face fines of $300 to $1,000 per day for excavation without a permit. Manning said it will be up to the borough’s code enforcement officer to issue citations.

“It is a matter we’re taking seriously and that will be followed up with by our code enforcement,” Manning said. The borough could also require the contractor to cover the costs of street repairs and reimburse emergency response expenses.

Road detours

PennDOT announced that northbound Route 88 remains closed between 8th and 9th streets in Charleroi. Traffic will be detoured: Route 2016 (1st Street/Lincoln Avenue Extension); Route 2027 (Twilight Hollow Road); eastbound I-70; north Route 906; across the Charleroi Monessen Bridge, reenter north Route 88.

Melissa Maczko, press officer for the Authority of the Borough of Charleroi, said there is no timeline for reopening the roadway.

Whiten said closing the road was the right call.

“It’s a safety concern, so I’m glad they made that call,” Whiten said. “They didn’t feel it would have been safe for buses or any kind of traffic, and I agree. You don’t know how much weight that road could take be-