Marychris Rodriguez on the Crucial Nature of Workplace Safety Protections

Marychris Rodriguez
Las Vegas, Nevada

I am speaking on behalf of my son, Vicente Rodriguez. On May 20, 2009 my son was hired by subcontractor to do the load out for the Tom Jones show inside a theater at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

He was hired to be a ground rigger, and while he was there, an employee of the host property said “Here, buddy, come with me.” He proceeded to take my son almost 39 feet into the apex of the theater and there was this insane oak plank, suspended by cables, masquerading as a proper catwalk system. In order to reach the live line, my son had to stand on a rounded top rail, trying to reach out 52 inches away for this live line. And unless you are member of the Fantastic Four, I don’t know anybody who has a reach of 52 inches.

The fall was immediate – Vicente died of a broken neck.

When they speak of deregulating, it will just give companies – big, small, in-between – a carte blanche for more deaths and more injuries on the job, because there will be no deterrent at all whatsoever.

I’m sure anybody in a management position, in an upper-branch of management – I’m sure none of them lost their golf game the next day over this. But myself, and my family – we lost our lives.

I don’t have the money to come in and lobby like these corporations have. What I do have is the truth behind me and justice, and a soul, and a heart.

This should have never happened – because I didn’t send him to fight the war – he only went out for a paycheck.

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Thanks to United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities for connecting us with Marychris.