OSHA has proposed $133,000 in fines for a Staten Island contractor the agency says failed to protect workers against cave-in hazards.

The agency cited Able Plumbing Inc. for a total of four alleged willful and repeat violations of safety standards following an inspection of a sewer-line installation on Staten Island .

OSHA's says company employees were working in a seven-foot-deep trench that lacked protection against a collapse of its sidewalls. This is the sixth time since 1998 OSHA cited Able Plumbing for failing to provide cave-in protection.

OSHA issued one willful citation for the lack of collapse protection. The citation carries a proposed fine of $70,000, the maximum allowed under law. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

The agency also issued t hree repeat citations, accounting for $63,000 of the total penalties.