© 2008 review-journal

Several construction workers recently were observed drinking alcohol at nearby bars before they entered the CityCenter job site, a violation of company rules set by the general contractor.

Surprisingly, there are no state or local regulations or laws prohibiting a worker who has consumed alcohol from going to work on a construction site, state and local officials told the Review-Journal after a reporter and photographer observed 10 construction workers drinking and then returning to the job site of the massive $9.2 billion MGM Mirage project.

The significance of the issue is raised because of the 12 construction-related deaths that have occurred at Strip construction sites in the past 18 months, but the Clark County coroner's office and the Nevada Office of Safety and Health Administration refused to say whether any of the deaths were linked to alcohol or drug use, citing privacy concerns.

The Review-Journal began investigating the matter after receiving letters to the editor reporting that construction workers were seen drinking near the job site, which employs about 7,700 workers operating shifts around the clock.