By Mike Donoghue, Senior Correspondent
The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration office has opened an investigation into the town of Woodstock for safety issues surrounding its water system.
A VOSHA safety compliance officer was passing through town on July 9 and happened to see a work crew working in a ditch, according to Dirk Anderson, Worker’s Comp and Safety Director.
After checking the site, an investigation file was started and remains open, Anderson said.
Municipal manager Eric Duffy said it was a town project involving the water system. He told the Vermont Standard that the site was excavated to check on valves for the water pipes.
Duffy said he knew little about the complaint, but noted it was in front of the Ottauquechee Health Center on Pleasant Street. Other sites in town also had been excavated to check the valves in the system, Duffy told the Vermont Standard.
There was no public mention made about the VOSHA investigation during the meeting of the Woodstock Selectboard on July 22.
Selectboard chair Ray Bourgeois did not respond to a message seeking comment on the VOSHA investigation before deadline this week.
Anderson said state inspectors normally have 180 days from the opening of an investigation to close out the file. Several things can happen including no action, corrective actions or fines.
He said state inspectors do share safety information with workers at job sites to help them come into compliance.
VOSHA has strict rules when it comes to digging ditches and trenches. They include certain requirements to ensure safety of workers when down in the excavated hole. VOSHA is concerned about safety hazards for all workers, including possible cave-ins.
Oftentimes workers install a metal trench box or use proper sloping to try to ensure the sides of the hole do not collapse and bury the workers.
