Influenced, OSHA bends (Boyd is a major contributor to Gibbons election campaigns)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/apr/18/influenced-osha-bends/

After involvement of Gibbons appointee, violations, fines in case of Orleans workers’ deaths were reduced

By Alexandra Berzon

Fri, Apr 18, 2008 (2 a.m.)

State safety officials sharply reduced violations and fines against the Orleans for its role in two worker fatalities last year after one of Gov. Jim Gibbons’ top political appointees became involved in the investigation, the Sun has learned.

The reduction removed a tough but rare finding of willful disregard for safety that would have permanently marred the record of the owner of the Orleans, Boyd Gaming Corp., and could have exposed the company to costly lawsuits or fines in the future.

To reduce the citations, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration negotiated a series of maneuvers that broke significantly from normal department procedures. Boyd is a major contributor to Gibbons election campaigns.

The case so angered Boyd’s safety manager, Don Barker, and OSHA inspector John Olaechea, who investigated the accident, that both men quit their jobs.

The head of Nevada OSHA, Tom Czehowski, said this week that never in his seven years at the agency has he seen other state officials insert themselves into an OSHA case.

An OSHA spokeswoman confirmed Thursday that Boyd had asked one of Gibbons’ appointees to become involved. She is Mendy Elliott, director of the Business and Industry Department, which includes OSHA.

FULL story at link.