OSHA oversight in question

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/25/osha-oversight-question/

By Alexandra Berzon, Lisa Mascaro

Wed, Jun 25, 2008 (2 a.m.)


Washington — Witnesses and lawmakers at a House hearing delivered a blistering portrayal Tuesday of construction safety oversight on the Las Vegas Strip.

“The project in Nevada looks a little like a test case here, in the sense that fatalities and injuries have taken place, yet they continue,” said Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

“The No. 1 tool in the arsenal — fines — continues to get waived,” Miller said, citing reporting by the Las Vegas Sun that found Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration originally levied fines against contractors after fatal accidents but withdrew those fines after contractors protested.

“This raises very, very serious questions about the state enforcement and what federal government ... has the ability to do under the current law,” Miller said. He was speaking specifically about fatalities at MGM Mirage’s CityCenter and the general contractor at that site, Perini Building Co.

The committee’s hearing came after 12 construction workers fell, were crushed or died in other kinds of accidents in less than 19 months on the Strip and following two deadly construction crane accidents in New York City. Lawmakers sought to assess whether federal OSHA is doing its job to protect workers.

Witnesses and lawmakers at the wide-ranging, lively hearing raised issues of deep concern and proposed a number of solutions.

FULL story at link.