A utility contractor has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing its workers to excavation hazards and nearly allowing an employee to be buried alive in an unsafe workplace.

Ballard Construction Co. Inc., based in Kellyton, faces up to $34,476 in penalties after an employee who was installing a sewer system was injured by a trench collapse.

OSHA found Ballard was allowing workers to perform construction on improperly sloped sites with little to no protection.

Ballard was cited on Monday and has 15 days to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or dispute the findings.

CORRECTION: OSHA cited Ballard Construction Co. Inc of Kellyton, Alabama, not S.B. Ballard Construction Co. in Virginia as was reported in an earlier version of this article.