DOL Cites Florida Employer for Serious Safety Hazards

On September 23rd, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) cited an employer in Florida for serious safety hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined that a pipe installation company in the Orlando area willfully exposed workers to known safety hazards. Unfortunately, the safety hazards in question were deemed to be a factor in a deadly workplace accident that occurred in New Smyrna Beach in March of 2026. In this article, you will find a more comprehensive overview of the enforcement action and the relevant law.

OSHA Cited T & T Pipeline After a Fatal Accident in New Smyrna Beach

The enforcement action in this case arose from a March 17th, 2026, accident that involved T & T Pipeline Co. Inc., an Orlando-based pipeline installation contractor. According to OSHA, employees were replacing a drill bit on a horizontal directional drilling machine at a New Smyrna Beach worksite when the pipe stem began rotating and fatally struck a worker. OSHA investigated the fatality and cited T & T Pipeline for a willful violation based on its alleged exposure of employees to struck-by hazards. The agency proposed a $165,514 penalty.

Federal Labor Law Requires Employers to Address Serious Workplace Hazards

Florida does not operate its own OSHA-approved state plan for private-sector employers, so federal OSHA directly regulates most private workplaces in the state. Section 5(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act imposes two important duties on employers:

• Under 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1), commonly called the General Duty Clause, an employer must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
• Section 654(a)(2) separately requires employers to comply with specific OSHA safety and health standards. Employers therefore must identify hazards associated with dangerous machinery and work practices and implement required safeguards, training, procedures, and other protective measures.

A Willful OSHA Violation Carries a Heightened Legal Standard 

OSHA does not classify every safety violation as “willful.” Quite the contrary, a willful violation requires evidence that an employer intentionally disregarded OSHA requirements or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. That classification can apply when an employer knows about a hazardous condition and the measures required to correct it but fails to address the danger. Willful violations also carry substantially greater financial exposure. For penalties assessed in 2026, OSHA may impose up to $165,514 for each willful or repeated violation, compared with a maximum of $16,550 for a serious violation. In other words, OSHA proposed the maximum penalty in the T & T Pipeline case. The federal agency deemed the employer’s workplace safety violation was one that the company knew or should have known about.

Get Help From an Employment Lawyer in Florida

Workplace safety is important. Employees have the right to expect fair, safe conditions while on the job. Employers must comply with certain state and federal workplace safety regulations. If you have any questions about your rights or responsibilities, a Florida employment lawyer can help.