Optimism and doubt both emerged when Nevada labor leaders discussed whether worker safety will radically improve as a result of harsh new findings by federal officials, who documented shortfalls in the state's occupational safety program.

Steven Ross, an officer of a Southern Nevada labor council, was the optimist.

Paul McKenzie, an officer of a labor council in Northern Nevada, was the pessimist.

"The message I want to give you is, it is a new day," Ross told the newspaper by telephone Thursday. He wasn't just referring to the blunt, extensive recommendations for change contained in the federal report, which was released this week. He also mentioned the new heads for Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and for its Division of Industrial Relations, which houses the OSHA program.

"I think Nevada OSHA is grateful the feds have stepped up to the plate," said Ross. He described the state as crossing a threshold to better oversight and better coordination between new state safety leaders and organized labor.