Gary Puleio: Soltan 9/25/2001

Gary Puleio

Gary was killed on the job at a concrete plant on August 15, 2001. He had been employed there only 3 months as a non-union cement truck driver and fell 25 feet to his death, from a cement tower, while shoveling gravel off the hopper to clean it. The company claimed Gary just wandered up there on his own, without wearing any safety equipment, at the end of his driving shift rather than being assigned this dangerous task because he was the “new man”. OSHA accepted this implausible story and after admitting no wrong doing, the company paid a $6000 fine for REPEAT violations for not posting danger signs at a confined space and not implementing measures to prevent unauthorized entry. This company had multiple serious violations issued only months before Gary was killed which were informally settled with reduced fines. Corporations routinely “negotiate” with OSHA to downgrade fines through a process called “abatement. ” Aggrieved families of dead workers have no such access to OSHA, face hurdles in obtaining information under the Freedom of Information Act, have their concerns condescendingly dismissed and ultimately are told that no further action can be taken once 6 months have passed since the “alleged violation”. .

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Soltan 9/25/2001

9/25/01

Richard D. Soltan
Regional Administrator
OSHA
The Curtis Center
170 S. Independence Mall West
Suite 740 West
Philadelphia, Pa 19106-3309

Dear Mr. Soltan:

Thank you for your kind letter of 9/04/01 offering your condolences in the loss of my brother, Gary Puleio, in an industrial accident. I have, indeed, contacted John Stranahan by certified letter requesting the findings of the investigation when it becomes available. I am patiently awaiting this information.

In the interim, I have contacted my elected representatives ( enclosures) to urge them to promote worker safety in northwestern PA. In addition to my brother’s recent death the Meadville Tribune reported that Channellock was fined fifty one thousand dollars for serious and willful violations in the death of Perry Rubner. I was appalled to read that the company contested this fine and that there was a settlement of a lesser fine. My letter to the editor is enclosed for your review as well.

The Rubner family also is seeking the assistance of elected representatives to see that worker safety is enforced in northwestern PA.( enclosure)

I hope you find the enclosed information of value. I pray that the pain of these senseless deaths can be mitigated by our efforts to bring about meaningful change in the area of worker safety.

I await your comments.

Sincerely,

Donna P. Spadaro, MD
R. D. 2 Box 18 Warren Rd
Franklin, Pa 16323

CC: John Stranahan, OSHA, 3939 W. Ridge Rd. Suite B12 Erie, Pa 16506