Recently there has been an increase in the number of construction accidents that has prompted a special committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to launch a review of the federal agency in charge of ensuring workplace safety. The mission of this committee is to determine if the safety standards of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are adequate and being followed.
Perhaps contributing to these workplace injuries, some resulting in death, is the need to move faster to build quickly and meet construction deadlines. U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California said, "It's taking its toll and it's killing or injuring our workers - all so some big buildings can get built quickly."
In Las Vegas alone, 10 construction workers died during a 17-month period while working on Las Vegas strip projects.
"The failure to adequately protect these workers is a direct result of an agency that doesn't dedicate enough resources to inspect most job sites nor the political will to hold employers accountable when they put workers at risk," said Aaron Albright, committee spokesman. "Our committee has seen similar patterns across the country."
Legislators want tougher penalties for employers who violate workplace safety rules, and have introduced legislation to increase fines and make it easier for workers to appeal rulings. The bill would also raise criminal penalties, making repeat workplace violations a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Clearly, the move here is to bring more employers into compliance to protect employees. We can expect closer scrutiny, both at the federal and state levels, in the future.