b'behalfofaKansasCitybasedcontractor,wehavejustcompletedafullblownadministrativejudgehearinginvolvingaperimeterguardrail citation andarepreparingforanothersuchhearinginvolvinganothercontractor. Whileweclearlyrecognizethepracticalandtechnicalproblems(perhapsthe impossibility)ofcompletecompliancewithSection1926.S00(d)(l)andare arguingsuchincontestedcases,westronglyrecommendthatyoudosomething inthewayofperimeterguarding.Anyaffirmativeactiononyourpartin thedirectionofmeetingtheStandardisbetterthannothing,Ropewarning linessuspendedbypostsplacedincementfilledfivegallonputtybuckets, chainssupportedbypostsnailedtowoodnailersontheroofperimeter,etc. noquestionthatthesesystemsdonotmeettherequirementsoftheStandard. However,theyarebetterthannothingandmayhelptopreventaserious injury.Further,theywillbeanindicationtoaninspectingcompliance officerofyourgoodfaithefforttomeettherequirementsoftheStandard, \'Forthoseofyouwho 1ikefactsandfigures,duringsepternber,1974, OSHAconducted6,435inspections,issued4,306citationstoemployers, alleging23,681violationsofjobsafetyandhealthstandards,Proposed penaltiestotaled$604,296,Sinceitbeganoperatingin1971,through September,1974,OSHAhasmadeatotalof178,641inspectionsresulting in119,343citationsalleging616,374violationswithproposedpenalties totaling$15,492,634.OfthetotalnumberofinspectionssinceOSHAbegan operations,67%haveresultedincitations.Accordingly,ifyouget inspected,yourchancesofreceivingacitation areprettyhealthy, ForthoseofyouhopingthatCongresswouldexemptbusinesseswith25 orfewerworkersfromOSHAinspections,sorry,nosuchluck.TheHousedid passtheLabor-HEWappropriationsbill(H.R.15580)forfiscal1975withan exemptionfromOSHAjobsafetyinspectionsforcompanieswith25orfewer employees.TheSenate-HouseConferenceCommitteeeliminatedtheexemption, Thebill,withouttheexemption,hasnowbeenapprovedbyCongressand signedbyPresidentFord. SASMIIS"ILLEGALTRUST 11 TheUnitedStatesDistrictCourt,SouthernDistrictofAlabama, SouthernDivision,onOctober11,1974,granteditsordertemporarily .eaj.o.in-i-ng.Metal -WorkersLocalNo,441fromincluding theNational -Sheet Stabilization AgreementoftheSheetMetalIndustryTrustFund(SASMI) initscollectivebargainingdemands.TheCourt\'sorderisbasedupon adeterminationthatSASMIdoesnotcomplywiththerequirementsof Section302ofthe"Taft-HartleyAct"forthereasonthatemployersand employeesarenotequallyrepresentedinadministrationoftheSASMI TrustFund.QuotingfromtheCourt\'sdecision,"ThisCourtisamazed thatthe1973TrustAgreementhassuchsystematicunequalrepresentation ofemployersandemployees," Thetemporaryrestrainingorderwasissuedattherequestofthe MobileMechanicalContractorsAssociation(MCA)whichrepresentedarea employersincollectivebargainingwithLocal441andotherunions. Local441wentonstrikeagainsttheemployersrepresentedbyMCAon July16,1974inanattempttoforceMCAmemberstoagreetocontribute ,_3%ofgrosspaytoSASMI,anactionthattheCourtfoundtobethe11 sole object 11ofthestrike.'