WTP4 marks 1M manhours with no injuries

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Water on Tuesday celebrated one million man-hours without any workers getting seriously hurt on the job at Water Treatment Plant No. 4, being built at FM 2222 and Loop 620.

Hundreds of workers were treated to a special fajita lunch.

This past summer officials from Occupational Safety and Health Administration was called out to investigate after workers complained about lack of water and breaks. The Workers Defense Project also claimed workers were told to bring their own protective gear or buy it directly from the contractor

OSHA found no violations.

Plant project managers say worker safety is their priority.

"We usually serve the workers on this particular day, and [show] our appreciation for what they do," said Larry Laws, project director. "We, our vendors are very generous; they usually provide some food, they usually provide some door prizes that we can give out. And they guys really appreciate the acknowledgment of them working safely."

The plant was controversial from the beginning, In 2011, Austin City Council considered canceling construction after environmental groups fought hard to stop it. They decided to continue after a study showed it would cost more than $155 million to halt construction.