Chicago Tribune gets it wrong about construction safety bill

Today the Chicago Tribune wrote an editorial about the Construction Safety Act of 2008, House Bill 2094, and got it totally wrong.  This important legislation will help protect Illinois construction workers and we should fight to get it passed.

One of the points that the editorial makes is that the Workers' Compensation System is " is fair, and relatively quick and inexpensive. It works."  I believe if you ask the thousands that have  experienced it they will tell you a different story.  CJ&D  released a good study, Workers' Compensation - A Cautionary Tale, in 2006 about the pitfalls of the system.  It is an informative and interesting read about the subject.   

In response to the editorial we wrote a letter to the editor (below),

The Tribune’s editorial “The Lawyers-get-work act” (April 29, 2008) gets it wrong.  The Construction Safety Act of 2008 would be good for workers and Illinois and it should pass. 

Construction is one of the most dangerous job in the state.  In 2006, there were over 13,000 construction worker injuries.  More construction workers die each year than firemen and police combined. New York, which already has a similar law on the book, has some of the lowest construction death and injury rates in the country.

Moreover, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is supposed to assure the safety and health of America’s construction workers - but is ill-equipped to do so.  At their current staff levels it would take over 121 years to inspect everything they are responsible for overseeing.  In other words, more needs to be done to ensure the safety of Illinois' construction workers.

This important legislation would provide the financial incentive for owners and contractors to provide safe scaffolds and other potentially deadly equipment, and to prevent the hiring of low-bidding subcontractors, who are tempted to work as quickly and cheaply as possible while cutting safety corners to save money.  It places responsibility for safety practices at a construction site on the owner and general contractor—where it belongs. 

Jason Held
Staff Director,
Center for Justice & Democracy-Illinois

Lets see if they publish it.  I am not holding my breath.

If you haven't already, please contact your State House Representative to let them know you support HB 2094.  Click here to locate your state House Representative