Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen - August 2020 | Page 19

Public watch
Members of the public are helping officials
to spot infringements on construction
sites. Since March 30, New York City
residents lodged 6,127 complaints against
contractors for potential COVID-19 jobsite
safety protocol violations, using the
city’s nonemergency 311 phone system.
According to Austin city officials, there
have been more than 150 calls made to
311 regarding construction sites since the
beginning of April.
Austin Public Health Director Stephanie
Hayden told KXAN that if there are multiple
311 calls about one place or person, the
city will first try to get the site or person to
voluntarily make changes and follow the
rules.
“Initially our goal is to get voluntary
compliance. That is our hope for everyone,”
she said. “In the event things are not
implemented, we will move forward and
provide a citation to them and take those
individuals to court.”
Elrich said alone the health department
received 70 photos from residents
showing apparent noncompliance at local
businesses, noting that the county has
already shut down restaurants and will do
the same for offending construction sites.
to each other and in line to get their
temperatures taken, according to the Las
Vegas Review-Journal. Dozens of workers at
the site have been infected with COVID-19
since March.
OSHA noted employees at the site were
not abiding by the 6-feet-minimum socialdistancing
requirement, noting that two
65-foot boom lifts were operating, each of
which had three men per basket in violation
of the two-person-per-basket regulation.
The fine is the maximum penalty for a
serious OSHA violation. Repeat violators can
face a fine of $134,937 for each violation.
The JV denied the offense, saying in a
statement that it is committed to complying
with all health and safety regulations.
“Our team has actively communicated
and diligently enforced evolving Nevada
OSHA and Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention requirements with our project
partners and up to 2,000 workers on site
each day,” it reads. “Our team has continued
to make changes and adjustments as
needed or identified in an effort to protect
everyone on the project.”
OSHA citation
In Nevada, on June 23, OSHA officials fined
the joint venture in charge of construction
at the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium for a
“serious” coronavirus-related violation.
The $13,494 fine relates to two incidents in
April regarding a lack of social distancing
and included 35 photos detailing various
employees working in close proximity
AUGUST 2020 • DITCHMEN 17