Politics & Government
2 SMC Plumbing Companies Face 6-Figure Fines For Trench Collapse
Smelly Mel's and Sewer Rat will pay more than $500,000 after state regulators found safety violations that led to a worker's injury.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Two plumbing companies in South San Francisco are facing potential fines of over $500,000 by state regulators for safety violations that resulted in a worker injured by a collapsed trench in August 2024.
Smelly Mel's Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing were cited for $529,640 by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) for worksite conditions that inspectors said the companies knew were unsafe. The companies can appeal within 15 days.
Inspectors found eight violations for each company, a total of 16, including "two willful, serious accident-related violations -- meaning the businesses were aware of the safety hazards, had prior warning, and still failed to take corrective action," according to a Cal/OSHA press release on Monday.
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The two companies are registered as separate businesses entities, but they share a phone number and a registered business address at 300 Shaw Road in South San Francisco, according to state business records.
A message left Tuesday afternoon requesting comment was not returned by press time.
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The accident happened on Aug. 1, when the companies were installing a sewer line at a residence on West 41st Avenue in the city of San Mateo. A trench that was dug for the line collapsed, leaving a worker seriously injured and buried in debris. The worker was hospitalized afterward, according to Cal/OSHA.
Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said trench collapses are one of the most serious dangers in construction work and employers need to take measures to prevent them.
"These citations serve as a reminder that businesses must prioritize worker safety, especially during high-risk operations to avoid tragic accidents," Lee said in a statement.
Among the violations found were that the employers failed to conduct a safety meeting at the site, did not inspect the trench daily and did not provide a ladder or any means of escape for someone in the trench, which was more than 9 feet deep.
Cal/OSHA inspectors also found the companies did not provide proper foot protection to workers, file permits for the work on time, or have protection measures in the trench, like sloping or other design features that could have prevented collapse.
Story by Thomas Hughes, Bay City News.
Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
