MIAMI — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Doral-based Sunshine Underground Inc. with $218,000 in proposed penalties following a fatal trench collapse at a water main replacement project in Hialeah that killed one worker and injured two others in January 2026.

OSHA’s investigation found that Sunshine Underground failed to provide adequate protective systems for a trench more than 8 feet deep, violating OSHA excavation standards. Inspectors also cited the company for failure to have a competent person on site and inadequate employee training in trenching safety.

The worker who died, identified as Eduardo Castillo, 34, of Hialeah, was struck by soil and utility pipe fragments when the unprotected trench wall gave way during pipe installation. Castillo was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“Trenching fatalities are among the most preventable deaths in construction,” said OSHA Area Director Diego Bustamante. “Every employer has the obligation to protect workers with proper protective systems. There is no excuse for sending workers into an unprotected trench.”

Sunshine Underground has 15 working days to contest the citations and penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

OSHA classifies the citations as Willful, the most serious category, indicating the agency believes the employer was aware of the hazard but chose not to address it. Willful violations carry penalties of up to $161,323 per instance.

OSHA data show Florida recorded 47 construction-related fatalities in 2025, with trench collapses accounting for six of those deaths.

Author: Rachel Nguyen

Safety & Compliance Reporter. Covers OSHA actions, jobsite safety innovation, and workforce wellness programs. Certified Safety Professional (CSP) background with field experience in heavy civil construction.