Why is it that every time I hear a campaigning politician open his or her mouth they talk about “The most important thing we can do for this crippled economy is to create more jobs.” While often prioritizing the construction industry.
Yet every time I turn around they’re coming up with new regulations, certifications, and penalties which make it more difficult for us in the construction industry to survive.
In my City of Sacramento Ca., multiple government entities have teamed up and began visiting jobsites randomly pulled from permit applications and proceeding to hand out fines beyond the means of any small remodelers in my area. These entities include Cal Osha, Ca. State Contractors license board, EDD, and the labor board. All showing up in unison at sites with badges glaring.
They proceed to question workers and cross examine their employers. Following up, if deemed necessary, by an office visit to check records against the jobsite depositions.
A good friend of mine, who does primarily insurance repairs, was recently visited at his site and was fined $18,000 for violations like no wash station next to bathroom, ($850), a ladder not strapped to the building, not having a first aid kit on site, lacking the proper safety postings and safety meeting documentation, heat prevention documentation, and more. Note that having the time to provide and maintain all of this is practically a full time job for 1 person, (slight exaggeration). And the way we’re bidding these days to get work there is no room for this extra burden and if there were it would just be passed on to the consumer.
Although many would argue that these are all very valid and important issues, my problem is that these fines are not only excessive but more or less “one size fits all”. The same fines would be imposed on larger companies, who are more able to handle the load, as the smaller 1 and 2 man crews who will surely risk closing up shop as my friend very well may.

Even a small company like my own being closed down would mean less work for my hourly guys, my subs, and their employees.
Come on people. This type of activity always seems to increase when we have budget shortfalls and a desperate need for our politicians to find ways to create revenue so they can boast about how they saved the budget while throwing a blind eye to the cost.