OSHA Fines 3 Companies $246K After Deadly Weld County Dairy Incident

Gas exposure led to the death of six workers attempting to stop a manure system leak.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed over $246,000 in penalties for three companies - Prospect Ranch, Fiske Inc., and HD Builders LLC - in connection to violations that led to the death of six workers at a dairy farm in Keenesburg, Colorado on August 20. The OSHA investigation found that a disconnected pipe in Prospect Ranch's manure management system released manure water and deadly hydrogen sulfide gas, resulting in the deaths of four Fiske employees and two Prospect Ranch employees who tried to stop the leak.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the critical importance of proper safety protocols and training for workers dealing with hazardous materials and environments. The large fines imposed by OSHA underscore the agency's commitment to holding companies accountable for failing to protect their employees from known dangers.

The details

According to OSHA, Prospect Ranch faces a $132,406 fine for failing to protect workers from atmospheric hazards, lacking a written hazard communication program, and not training workers on detecting hazardous gases. Fiske Inc. was fined $99,306 for not protecting employees from hazardous atmospheres and not providing hydrogen sulfide detection training. HD Builders received a $14,897 penalty for lacking a written hazard communication program and failing to train workers on hydrogen sulfide detection.

  • The incident occurred on August 20.
  • OSHA proposed the penalties on February 25, 2026.

The players

Prospect Ranch

The dairy farm where the incident took place and one of the companies fined by OSHA.

Fiske Inc.

A contracting company hired to work on Prospect Ranch's manure management system, four of whose employees died in the incident.

HD Builders LLC

Another contracting company hired to work on the manure system, which received a fine from OSHA for safety violations.

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What’s next

The three companies have until early March 2026 to decide how to respond to the OSHA penalties, which could involve negotiating the fines or contesting the findings.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical need for robust safety protocols and training, especially in industries dealing with hazardous materials. The large OSHA fines serve as a stark reminder that companies cannot cut corners when it comes to protecting their workers' lives.