In Idaho, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration leveled a $7,875 fine against the construction firm DeBest Inc. The company's troubles began when a dirt wall collapsed on a worker. Two other workers immediately jumped in to help him. But they neglected to put on hard hats and take precautions against other side walls collapsing or against water flowing into the trenches. That was a violation of OSHA rules, and it got the company fined.

Kevin Gill, one of the rescuers who was honored for bravery by the town of Garden City, pointed out that if they had taken all the necessary precautions, the man would probably be dead. "We could hear muffled screams," Gill said. "There was a good-sized chuck of dirt on him. You could see just about one inch of the back of his head."

Ryan Kuemichel, the local OSHA director, said that it would be "selective enforcement" not to fine DeBest. "We're supposed to look at a hazard and resulting injury, not at employees' or employers' belief as to whether it was a hazard."

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