| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Tamara Neale 804-786-6458 |
CO-0440 Sept. 14, 2004 |
VDOT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING EMPLOYEE SAFETY AT TUNNELS IN THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION
RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) received today citations from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry regarding employee safety at the Hampton Roads area tunnel facilities.
“I take these citations very seriously. Their public release follows VDOT’s ongoing efforts to improve tunnel safety and address critical safety issues,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet. “The citations will help us to improve safety and prevent accidents in the future.”
The inspection stemmed from a fatal employee accident that occurred at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel last March.
VDOT immediately reported the incident to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. It looked into employee safety issues surrounding the incident itself as well as other possible safety workplace violations in area tunnels.
VDOT will not have a full picture of the citations until it has reviewed them in detail and has had a chance to respond to them. VDOT will investigate the citations to address safety concerns and contest those citations that may have already been addressed.
Shucet’s recorded comments from a press briefing this afternoon and a copy of the citations are located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
Page last modified: Tuesday, September 14, 2004
