Wayne A George, Willful OSHA Violation, Pennsylvania 2024

Wayne A. George, a Beaver County, Pennsylvania resident and plumbing franchise owner, was sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to a willful OSHA violation that led to the death of a 21-year-old employee. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia R. Eddy in federal court, marks a rare criminal prosecution in a deadly workplace safety failure.

George, operating as d/b/a A Rooter Man of Pittsburgh, LLC, was directly responsible for all trench work performed by the company, including excavation and septic system repairs. Despite decades of experience as an excavator and full knowledge of federal safety regulations, George ignored OSHA rules requiring cave-in protection in trenches deeper than five feet. On September 28, 2015, at the Shelbourne Personal Care Home in Penn Township, Butler County, he dug an 11-foot trench with no protective shoring or shielding.

Inside that unprotected trench, 21-year-old employee Jacob Casher was working when the walls suddenly collapsed. Buried instantly under tons of soil, Casher was killed at the scene. George was on-site at the time, operating a backhoe and overseeing the job. Investigators found a ladder in the trench used by workers to enter and exit—proof of awareness of the danger, but no effort to prevent it.

OSHA’s investigation uncovered two willful violations and multiple serious breaches of construction safety standards. Willful violations indicate conscious disregard for employee safety—a key factor in the criminal referral. George paid $87,000 in penalties to OSHA, but the financial cost pales against the human toll of a young worker’s life cut short by preventable negligence.

The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of the Regional Solicitor built the case over years, culminating in federal prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nelson P. Cohen. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady emphasized that workplace safety laws aren’t suggestions—they’re enforceable standards meant to protect workers like Jacob Casher from foreseeable, fatal harm.

While George avoided prison time, the conviction stands as a stark warning to contractors who cut corners on safety. In an industry where trenches kill dozens each year, the message is clear: willful disregard for OSHA rules can lead to federal charges, criminal records, and lives destroyed. For Jacob Casher’s family, the sentence brings no relief—only confirmation that the system finally acknowledged the cost of George’s choices.

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