Our Houston injury lawyers note the Houston Chronicle’s lengthy discussion by Yang Wang of the ongoing Houston problems of dangerous driving, drug and alcohol abuse, irresponsible behavior, and lax discipline among the city’s unionized utilities workers. Of particular concern to us were the indications that some City employees drive Houston city vehicles while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
The Chronicle’s news article mentions that at least 130 of the city workers in the utilities department have failed mandatory or random drug tests, display repeated tardiness, workplace violence, or engage in other extreme behavior on the job. The quotes from the department’s director and supervisors did not make it appear that they were overly concerned about the problems. So our Houston injury lawyers would be surprised to see much improvement in the on the job behavior of Houston utilities workers in the near future.
The Chronicle article mentioned that approximately 460 complaints from the Houston public had been made against the city’s public works employees just in the last year. The complaints regarded dangerous behavior like reckless driving and damage to residents’ property, among other issues. If you live in Houston, you’re essentially paying the salaries and benefits of these workers. Our Houston injury lawyers point out that you have a right to expect that they won’t endanger you while on the job. But an employee that drives a city truck while intoxicated endangers everyone he might encounter.
The record of employee behavior, arrests, and convictions revealed in the Chronicle indicates that Houston’s public works department might have a problem with negligent hiring and employee retention practices. At least one worker, who displayed dangerous behavior while on the job, received convictions for criminal trespassing (twice), criminal mischief (three times), assault (twice), and drug related offenses (twice).
In a slow economy with millions out of work, can’t the city do better in finding and screening qualified utilities employees that don’t have criminal records? Our safety is at risk in Houston when City employees receive lax supervision and discipline and engage in dangerous behavior on the job. Allowing City workers to endanger the public and drive City trucks while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs is simply unacceptable.
Our Houston injury lawyers expect better from our City. Let’s hope that the utilities department cleans up its act and its workforce before any more City residents are harmed or endangered by their actions. Although the public works department apparently had the largest number of employees let go for cause, the department still seems to have a long way to go in cleaning up its workforce. If you’ve been injured by a City employee’s reckless behavior behind the wheel of a City truck, download our free book on the steps you need to take to make a successful injury claim after a truck wreck.