YARMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - A Massachusetts-based water and sewer line contractor has been cited for “willfully and repeatedly” exposing workers to safety hazards in a trench collapse that claimed the life of one employee and seriously injured another at a Yarmouth worksite in November 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday.
The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation into the incident on November 18 found that workers from Revoli Construction Co. Inc. removed sandy soil and installed steel plates outside of a trench. While working, the sand collapsed and two workers became trapped inside the trench. Crews were replacing sewer lines on South Shore drive at the time.
Miguel Reis, 61, of Fall River was killed in the incident. Another man was rescued after being stuck for more than four hours.
OSHA said it cited the employer with seven willful citations, 33 repeat, and 17 serious violations for failing to provide workers with a safe way to exit the trench,
lack of adequate cave-in protection, having unsupported underground utilities, maintaining spoil piles within two feet of an excavation, neglecting to install a shoring system per the design, using a damaged protective system, and exposing employees to numerous electrical and fall hazards.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer wrote, “This cave-in is a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored. Through our trench safety initiatives, the Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring every worker returns home safe at the end of the day. We will continue holding employers accountable and providing resources dedicated to hazard training and required engineering controls to put a stop to these preventable tragedies.”
Revoli Construction Co. Inc. now faces $4,699,362 in proposed penalties to address the violations. The company has 15 business days to comply or contest the findings.
7NEWS has reached out to Revoli Construction Co. Inc. for comment, but has not yet heard back.
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