Philip Siegel, Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel, delivers a valuable message to GUCA members regarding OSHA citations and effective measures companies should take.

The Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) North Georgia Industry Luncheon was recently held at The Smith House in Dahlonega, Ga. This was an open invitation event for GUCA members, prospective members, municipalities and government officials. No one in the area wanted to miss out on this opportunity to network while receiving time sensitive information and updates regarding the association and industry. More than 30 members and guests attended this meeting and took advantage of this great networking opportunity.

GUCA members and guests heard a presentation from Philip J. Siegel, Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel. Siegel addressed issues regarding OSHA/Unforeseeable Employee Misconduct Defense.

He said that a contractor who has established and enforced a safety program may be able to defend successfully an OSHA citation based upon the defense of unforeseeable employee misconduct. He said contractors have been successful defending themselves against OSHA liability, in many cases, based upon showing unforeseeable, unpreventable, or isolated employee misconduct.

The employee misconduct defense relies on the following four established requirements to be effective: work rules to prevent the violation from occurring, adequately communicating work rules to employees in a language they can understand, systematic steps to discover violations of work rules and enforced disciplinary action rules including termination of employees who violate established work rules.

GUCA members and guests also were addressed by GUCA President Charlotte Garrett, Rockdale Pipeline. She welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked BITCO Insurance Co. for its generous sponsorship. Garrett also encouraged the members to stay active and participate in future GUCA functions.

The importance of generating new membership was emphasized by Membership Committee Chairmen Dickey Watson, Industrial Chemicals. Watson also encouraged the members to stay active and participate in future GUCA functions and emphasized the importance of generating new membership in the North Georgia area. He promoted the 2016-2017 GUCA Membership Contest and emphasized how important it is building strong membership and relationships within the association.

Scott Brumbelow, GUCA assistant executive director, also updated those in attendance about upcoming events, safety classes and industry and legislative issues. Brumbelow also highlighted scholarship opportunities for GUCA members' children, as well as workforce development issues. In addition, Scott promoted the GUCA affinity programs including the 401(k) MEP Plan and the BITCO Safety Dividend Program.

Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc. is a non-profit state trade association located in metro Atlanta representing more than 390 contractor and affiliated firms statewide. GUCA represents the workforce who supplies, installs and rehabilitates the infrastructure of water, sewer, gas, electrical, telecommunications and other underground utility systems for the public and private sector including pipe and plant installation.

For more information, visit www.guca.com.

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