CONSTRUCTION WORKER DEATHS ON THE STRIP:

For family, hearing provides some comfort

MAISIE CROW / SPECIAL TO THE SUN

“Rusty’s death was not his fault,” Cole told the committee, despite Nevada OSHA’s ultimate finding that he alone was responsible and the contractor bore no responsibility. “The OSHA photos of his crushed and lifeless body will forever overshadow the energetic and fun-loving life of this kind and generous man.”

By Alexandra Berzon (contact)

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Federal Hearing Focuses on Vegas

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The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee took aim at OSHA on Tuesday, citing the recent fatalities at construction sites on the Las Vegas Strip. After hearing testimony from OSHA's Assistant Secretary of Labor, Edwin Foulke and Las Vegas resident George Cole, among others, the committee took OSHA policy to task and was joined by Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley who also expressed concerns.

MAISIE CROW / SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Monique Cole, sister of late Las Vegas ironworker Harold Billingsley, wipes tears from her eyes as her husband, George Cole, listens Tuesday during the hearing on Capitol Hill.

Retired ironworker, federal OSHA chief respond to lawmakers (06-25-2008)
OSHA oversight in question (06-25-2008)

Construction Deaths

Five minutes to save lives (6-24-2008)
High-rise death mystifies family, officials (6-21-2008)
Worker injuries being suppressed, report finds (6-20-2008)

Washington — George Cole ended his remarks before the House Education and Labor Committee with a plea.

“I hope my testimony before you today will prevent future fatalities and help bring closure to our family,” Cole said.

The retired ironworker and contractor had testified about the death of his brother-in-law, Harold “Rusty” Billingsley, an ironworker who fell 59 feet at CityCenter last year.

Seated behind Cole as he testified was his wife, Monique. She cried quietly as he spoke to the committee, but she said afterward that it helped the mourning process to see that others were as outraged as she to learn of weak enforcement of Nevada’s safety regulations after her brother’s death.

“I was so glad for my family,” she said as she followed her husband out of the hearing for a much-desired cigarette. “We were delighted to find out the general population was appalled, too.”

Monique Cole took particular comfort in words from the committee chairman, Rep. George Miller of California, who sharply criticized Nevada OSHA for withdrawing the fines levied against contractors after the death of her brother in Las Vegas.

“He was speaking for me,” she said. “He was my voice.”

She and George soaked in the bittersweet attention on the Hill on Tuesday.

Ironworkers President Joseph Hunt presented the family with several signed books extolling the work of ironworkers throughout the past century.

Las Vegas Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley offered them a tour of the Capitol.

Nevada Rep. Jon Porter, a Republican, attended the hearing briefly to give the Coles a flag that had flown above the Capitol, in honor of Rusty.

Monique Cole said her first trip to the nation’s capital was a success.

“We accomplished what we came to accomplish,” she said.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By HandymanSC

6/25/08 at 12:25 p.m.

Suggest removal

YEP, It's always the employees fault
When are the people going to relize that OSHA is there to protect the business, NOT YOU.
I would say most of them are bought off, that why the fines are dropped or lowered after meeting with the company behind CLOSED DOORS.
And no the Union is getting to be as bad, they like to cover up things also. Makes them look good, So when you see them getting mad, it's because they are pressured to do so, and that 1 day STRIKE, that was the biggest joke of all. The union did not really want to do nothing, but HEY it did look good to the public