State OSHA official reports drop in worker deaths

CARSON CITY — The head of Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said today that the number of workers killed in accidents in Nevada has dropped significantly as workers have become more safety conscious.

Tom Czehowski, chief administrative officer for OSHA, said six people have been killed in workplace accidents in the eight months since July 1, compared with 31 during the previous 12-month fiscal year.

"Obviously, the fatalities the state has had are on everybody's mind," Czehowski said. "In the construction industry, it is inherent (that there wil be accidents). There are certain hazards."

He addressed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, which is deciding whether additional steps should be taken to improve worker safety in light of more than a dozen deaths in Strip construction projects over a recent 18-month period.