Senators Call For Construction Reform
With the outbreak of construction accident fatalities all across America, nine senators have lead the charge towards reform. The senators, which include Patty Murray of Washington, Harry Reid of Nevada, and Barack Obama of Illinois, sent a letter to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao asking her to make initiatives to improve worker safety on construction sites. Also included in the requests was improved crane regulations which haven’t been revised since 1971. The steps taken by the senators is in part due to the perceived lack of action by the current administration to make changes to the regulations on the books.
The issues of fall protection and crane safety are two prime examples of the Bush administration Labor Department’s efforts to delay or repeal regulation.
For example, under previous administrations, OSHA required ironworkers and others working high off the ground to use safety harnesses to prevent a fall. It also required netting or decking no more than two stories below them to break a fall and to protect workers below. The Bush administration repealed the requirement requiring netting or decking, arguing it was redundant.
As for crane safety, the Bush administration has stalled a new regulation from taking effect. Four years ago a committee of labor, industry and government officials signed off on new regulations for cranes, which have become increasingly sophisticated and complex.
Crane safety is quite the pressing issue these days as there have been several fatalities just in the last week, including four in Houston when one of the biggest cranes in the world collapsed at an oil refinery. Any move made by the senators on behalf of construction workers around the country will go a long way towards helping the construction accident epidemic.
