I Just Missed A $ 24,000.00 Fine By 6 Inches (vanity)

[sickofthehandouts]

This morning a VOSH (Virginia Occupational safety and Health) officer made a surprise site visit to one of the local construction projects I have. Two of my employees were working from a scissors lift with the rear gate left open. The officer stated that was a violation and that I could be cited for it. Upon further inspection he measured the height of the platform and determined that it was 9’ 6” above the ground. As per VOSH regulations the gate must be closed if working over 10’ from the ground. I was saved by a mere 6”. The fine for the citation should I have gotten one would have been $ 24,000.00 because of previous citations.

The point of all this is VOSH is a self-supporting agency that has to levy fines to make their budget. Would a $ 24k fine have made my employees any safer? I would say no because all of my 35-50 employees would have been fired as a $ 24k fine would almost certainly bankrupted my business.

I guess it just goes to show that no government agency is concerned with the small business owner, and that making their budget and their own paychecks is more important than the jobs of my employees.

[Phantom Lord]

The fine for the citation should I have gotten one would have been $ 24,000.00 because of previous citations.

Seems you have an ongoing problem.

[So Cal Rocket]

Perhaps you'll be more cognizant of complying with safety regulations in the future after this narrow escape.

[Alberta's Child]

If you think a $24,000 fine would have cost your company a lot of money, imagine what a worksite injury or fatality would do for your bottom line.

[Straight Vermonter]

If you have not fired the employee(s) responsible then the problem is yours.

[nevergore]

Just six inches have gotten a lot of people in trouble....

Grin.....

NeverGore :^)

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

In most states the money goes to the general treasury, just as traffic ticket fines do. Thus they are not a great motivation. However if this helps motivate the state to do more thorough inspections, then I am all for it!

[Phantom Lord]

How many "undocumenteds" do you have working for you? Be honest.

[sickofthehandouts]

I instituted a complete VOSH approved safety plan after the last citation. I can't be on every job all day long so how do I enforce the safety regulations? How does bankrupting a company help safety measures? I have only had 1 workmans comp claim and that was for a back injury. I provide the best equiptment and the latest up to date safety devices to every employee plus the complete saftey program with the actual quotes from the VOSH manual so what else can I do?

[Zavien Doombringer]

You can hire me for your computer needs :) I need a job!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

How does bankrupting a company help safety measures?

Bankrupting companies that continue to have safety violations sounds like a good way to make the workplace safer to me! I bet there are a lot of companies who can and do comply!

[VRWCmember]

You can hire me for your computer needs :) I need a job!

Do you really want to work for someone who would be bankrupted by a $24K fine? How's he going to be able to pay your nearly 6-figure salary?

[Zavien Doombringer]

Hey, I am desperate now...I have exactly one month before I am out of a job!

[VRWCmember]

FReepmail me your resume. I'll see if I find anything in my company that looks like a match.

[sickofthehandouts]

Since you are far smarter than I please do tell how these companies do comply.

[HairOfTheDog]

One of the guys falls and can't ever walk again, it would cost you a LOT more than $24,000.




Not that I don't get your point. I do. The point is safety, and their message seems to be lost in $$$$$ signs.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

One of the guys falls and can't ever walk again, it would cost you a LOT more than $24,000.

Actually your employee insurance covers that. Depending on the policy, your bonding company would pay if the employee sues. I don't think bonding companies normally pay for safety and environmental fines though.

[HairOfTheDog]

And bonding companies and insurance policies don't pay if they can show negligence by the employer that led to the injury.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Not true. One would have to be an idiot to sign a policy. One buys insurance for accidents, including accidents that are your fault. My auto insurance pays up to my deductable up if its my fault, if not my fault the other drivers insurance pays the full amount. Not much diffeant with construction insurance.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks.... I didn't know as much as I thought.

[pubmom]

What I know about the construction business would probably fit in a thimble, but what about your foreman taking charge of the safety issues?

You should be able to trust your employees to do what it takes to keep you in business. If not, then maybe they should find someone else to work for.

[sickofthehandouts]

It is very hard to find people that will just show up for work much less take any responsibility. I'm at a loss as to what to do. I have trained retrained and re-retrained but it does no good. People need to realize that in order to build a building people must bleed, get hurt, work in bad weather, get stuck in the mud and put up with govt BS. Buildings dont build themselves and the people who do construction work are not the most responsible individuals.

[Chummy]

It appears a lot of these folks are missing your point, s, and focusing their attention elsewhere.

One of these workers could have fallen from a height of 6 feet and been injured, too; but the rule -- from which this government agency makes its revenues -- establishes for who knows what reason a height of ten feet as that at which the gate must apparently be closed. (In other industries, other heights are selected for mandatory safety equipment, and in others still, no such regulations apply.)

At any of your places of business, have you a gate at the top of stairs leading to a lower floor? (NOTE TO GOV'T AGENCIES AND LAWMAKERS READING THIS -- DON'T GET ANY IDEAS!)

At 9'11-31/32", this contractor would have escaped citation; at 10'-1/1000", it would not.

Okay, carp at the contractor, argue it's the foreman's responsibilty, write another regulation; you know what? Accidents can and do happen, but ultimately it's how safe that worker is working and thinking that will prevent many if not most incidents.

Regardless, the emphasis when writing these regs appears to be on the worker -- but it's not. It's akin to the lure to some of a labor union. There's some underlying currents in this sort of thinking that are costing all of us.

[Chummy]

Have you considered a safety incentive program, eg, offering a savings bond or other bonus to those who demonstrate competence in the workplace, offer suggestions on how to work more safely, etc.?

Involve those workers -- even construction workers who "are not the most responsible" can give you a surprise if you give the right ones a chance.

People who don't deal with government agencies, bureaucrats and the mess of regulations that exists, have absolutely no idea how bad it really is. Hang in there.

[sickofthehandouts]

Thanks for the post. Some people around here act like they know everything and really dont know shit. They work in a cubicle and have no idea what it takes to build a building. Again thanks for the post.