Randy wrote:
On Tue, 4 May 2010 06:50:28 -0700 (PDT), rangerssuck
wrote:

Quick question -

What companies are regulated by OSHA? I'm sitting here watching John's
Landscaping Contracting, Inc. do my neighbors yard. Forget for the
moment that they are using five people with five leaf blowers to chase
a few leaves off a 50' x 100' plot (that's total size, including the
house). These people have no ear protection, no eye protection, no
dust masks, no gloves. They are using leaf blowers, chain saws, weed
whackers, a lawn mower big enough to do Giants Stadium and a chipper,
all without the benefit of any of the aforementioned safety equipment.

If it's noisy enough in my office, with the windows and doors closed
that I won't be able to have a phone conversation until they're done,
it's just common sense that these people's hearing is in danger, not
to mention their eyes, lungs and hands.

Now, I know that most of them (though probably not John himself) are
probably illegal aliens, and many of you think they should be used up
and then thrown away, but in general, are there ANY laws concerning
worker safety that apply to such an operation?


I beleive OSHA laws kick in fully if you have 50 or more employees.
Less than 50 and OSHA will only respond to complaints against an
employer.

Not to mention that getting employees to actually _use_ their safety
equipment can be a battle in itself. Ear muffs and goggles are
uncomfortable and unmanly. It's much better to be blind and deaf when
you're old -- then you can't notice what your more able age-mates are
doing with your wife while you're boasting about your youthful exploits.

--
Tim Wescott
Control system and signal processing consulting
www.wescottdesign.com