Maria Baran
The Belleville News-Democrat

BENTON, Ill. — The excavating company that employed two men who were killed Monday in a trench collapse has not been investigated or cited for any safety violations, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Midwest Petroleum and Excavating of Benton, has a clean safety record, according to OSHA records. The company has a contract to do expansion work on the village's sewer treatment plant.

Walter Eickelman, 48, of Benton, and Ronny Yankey, 38, of Ellis Grove, were killed when a trench collapsed on them.

No one at Midwest Petroleum could be reached for comment.

It took local police and fire departments, as well as volunteers, several hours Monday evening to retrieve the bodies from the trench that is estimated to be at least 8 feet deep.

The company was hired as a subcontractor for the $7.4 million expansion project, which is being led by Followell Construction in Marion.

Followell Construction was cited by OHSA for one safety violation during an inspection in November 2007.

However, that violation did not involve the type of work that was being performed Monday. It involved two employees who were not adequately protected from falling while working on a roof. Followell agreed to correct the violation and pay a $1,400 fee.

Followell was not cited for any other OSHA safety violations.

Work on the expansion has been suspended for the remainder of the week. It is slated for completion Nov. 30.