Contractor Hit With $4.7M in OSHA Fines After Deadly Trench Collapse

Revoli Construction faces steep penalties for willful safety failures tied to a Yarmouth sewer project fatality.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:19pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of premium construction safety equipment including a hard hat, safety goggles, and a damaged section of steel trench shoring, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background to symbolize the abstract concepts of workplace safety, risk, and accountability.Damaged safety equipment from a deadly trench collapse serves as a somber reminder of the critical need for robust construction site oversight.Fall River Today

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed nearly $4.7 million in penalties against Revoli Construction after investigators found willful and repeated safety violations related to a deadly trench collapse on a Yarmouth sewer project in November 2025. The collapse killed 61-year-old worker Miguel Reis and seriously injured at least one other worker.

Why it matters

Trench cave-ins are among the deadliest hazards in construction, and federal regulators have been cracking down on safety failures in recent years. This case highlights the severe consequences contractors can face for ignoring basic trench safety protocols, and it may prompt Yarmouth and other municipalities to strengthen oversight on high-risk public works projects.

The details

According to OSHA, the collapse stemmed from inadequate cave-in protection and a string of other preventable safety failures, including placing spoil piles too close to the trench, failing to support underground utilities, using damaged protective systems, and not installing proper shoring. Revoli now faces seven willful, 33 repeat, and 17 serious citations.

  • The trench collapse occurred on November 18, 2025 along South Shore Drive during sewer line work.
  • In January 2026, the Yarmouth Select Board voted to require a full-time qualified safety professional on site for any remaining trench operations, with authority to shut down unsafe work.

The players

Revoli Construction

The construction company responsible for the Yarmouth sewer project where the deadly trench collapse occurred.

Miguel Reis

A 61-year-old worker from Fall River who was killed in the trench collapse.

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency that issued the $4.7 million in proposed penalties against Revoli Construction.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The federal agency that investigated the trench collapse and cited Revoli Construction for numerous safety violations.

Town of Yarmouth

The municipality where the deadly trench collapse occurred on a sewer project.

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What they’re saying

“The collapse is 'a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored.'”

— Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor

What’s next

Revoli Construction has 15 business days to either comply with the citations, request an informal conference, or formally contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The case could land before the commission for an independent review if the company chooses to fight the penalties.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of adhering to trench safety protocols on construction sites, especially for high-risk public works projects. The steep OSHA fines against Revoli Construction serve as a warning to other contractors that safety failures will be met with severe consequences, and it may prompt municipalities to strengthen oversight and training requirements for workers in dangerous excavation work.