Federal report blames employer for death of worker in Hanson

Officials called the incident "entirely preventable."

A federal investigation found a Woburn man responsible for unsafe work conditions that killed a worker in Hanson in February, the U.S. Department of Labor said on Friday.

Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that employer Aleckssandro Tomaz Pereira could have potentially prevented an employee’s death at a Hanson construction site, the department said in a statement. Pereira oversaw three different waterproofing and concrete foundation contracting companies in Massachusetts, the statement said.

Inspection records said the incident happened around 11:30 a.m. at a house in Hanson. The records said the employee was working for Pereira laying a concrete foundation. While digging in a trench, the surrounding foundation collapsed on the employee, the investigation said. The employee later died of their injuries.

OSHA investigators said Pereira allegedly ordered the victim to enter the trench and prepare it for waterproofing, while Pereira knew it was unstable.

“Aleckssandro Tomaz Pereira should never have placed workers in this trench until the excavation and the building’s foundation were guarded against collapse, workers were properly trained, water was removed from the trench and an exit ladder was provided,” OSHA Area Director James Mulligan said. “This tragedy was entirely preventable.”

Safety code violations

The agency found Pereira in violation of several safety standards, including not providing a safe exit from the trench. In addition, OSHA said Pereia allegedly did not properly train his employees, did not waterproof the trench, and failed to “ensure the employee in the trench did not dig beneath the unsupported foundation walls’ base.”

OSHA cited Pereira for two willful code violations and six serious violations, the investigation report said. He must pay a proposed $283,115 in penalties. According to official citations, Pereira has 15 days to comply with the findings. If he does not want to comply, he could speak with the local director of OSHA, or contest the findings.

Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.