OSHA fines Pennichuck

March 3, 2004

NH Business Review Staff,

NASHUA – Pennichuck Corp. was fined $52,750 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday for allegedly failing to protect workers from cave-in hazards during a Main Street water main break in January.

OSHA inspectors found workers exposed to cave-ins from both undermined pavement and an unprotected trench. OSHA issued the company three separate citations, which Pennichuck can contest in court.

The biggest citation – which carries at $49,000 fine – was a “willful” violation for failure to protect employees working in a trench from a potential cave-in.

Pennichuck did not have an adequate protective system like sloping or shoring, according to David May, OSHA’s New Hampshire area director.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one in which there is “intentional disregard of” or “plain indifference to” OSHA safety requirements. The two other alleged violations are deemed “serious” and total $3,750 in fines.

More news from NHBR:

NH rural health care faces challenges despite new grant

The federal government will give with one hand and take with another when it comes to New Hampshire’s rural health care system in 2026.

Investing in youth

As of April 2024, roughly 30% of New Hampshire workers were over 55, and more than 210,000 residents are expected to reach traditional retirement age in the coming decade.

Lakes Region asks for pipeline expansion

When New Hampshire called for more housing, the Lakes Region answered, and development in several central cities and towns took off fast. Then, the gas ran out.

Hiding in plain sight

Loss of manufacturing jobs contributed to our housing crisis

Amid volatility, local economies can provide a model of stability

As we begin 2026, we face another set of choices about how to forge a future that enables us to navigate the continuing instability and volatility in our civic and economic lives.

Cook on Concord: 2026 starts with a bang

On the morning of Jan. 3, American air forces executed an extraordinary raid in Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in their fortified home, brought them out of the country and ultimately to New York to face charges of drug trafficking.