On safety, we could learn from NYC - By Alexandra Berzon, Las Vegas Sun
The only response from Nevada’s elected leaders came from state legislators who said they would call hearings when the Legislature reconvenes next year to review the conduct of Nevada OSHA. The Sun reported in March that Nevada OSHA has levied only small fines on contractors for violations contributing to the deaths. In some cases, citations have been withdrawn altogether.
Local government leaders saw no role for themselves in the issue, in part because local governments in Nevada have no responsibility for workplace safety. That task falls exclusively to Nevada OSHA, which works with limited staff and budget to inspect every work site in the state.
Clark County did begin recently to push building inspectors to investigate building code violations more aggressively during construction. But the codes they enforce do not regulate construction safety. Rather, they ensure that buildings are safe once completed — that they do not contain structural flaws, fire hazards and so on.