After 6 die, OSHA finds (42 serious ) violations

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/14/after-6-die-osha-finds-violations/

Summer sweep by federal, state agencies uncovered dozens of serious problems

After crane operator Dustin Tarter died in June, workers at CityCenter painted a memorial on a beam of the project. A safety inspection followed his death, and general contractor Perini Building Co. is still appealing some of the findings.

By Alexandra Berzon

Sun, Dec 14, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Perini Building Co., general contractor on MGM Mirage's CityCenter project, says it has increased safety efforts on the massive site and that it has a "zero tolerance" policy on safety violations.

STEVE MARCUS / LAS VEGAS SUN FILE

Perini Building Co., general contractor on MGM Mirage's CityCenter project, says it has increased safety efforts on the massive site and that it has a "zero tolerance" policy on safety violations.

State and federal safety inspectors found 42 serious violations last summer during a sweeping review of the CityCenter construction site that followed a string of fatalities there, a review of recently released documents shows.

The reports by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration reveal a pattern of improper fall protection systems, flammable materials stored incorrectly, risks of electrical shock, faulty equipment and problematic record-keeping. The conditions prevailed at various parts of the site and in projects run by subcontractors as well as general contractor Perini Building Co.

Many were violations commonly spotted by OSHA on construction sites and some were later reduced or removed in settlement deals, or are still under appeal by employers.

The inspections began in June after Dustin Tarter, a crane operator, became the sixth worker to die at CityCenter.

His death was the final straw for construction crews. They walked off the job, shutting down the $9.2 billion project for a day to protest safety conditions.

Workers said the site, the largest commercial project in the country, was overwhelming in size and crowding and in the speed and complexity of the activity. They said Perini was not doing enough to ensure safe conditions.

FULL story and photos at link.