In a seismic shake-up to the way workplace fatalities are penalized in Arizona, the local division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) seems to be pulling back on offering steep discounts on safety fines when employees die on the job. The pivot follows an ABC15 investigation, which revealed ADOSH's routine practice of slashing penalties for small businesses under a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policy. This controversial method effectively softened the financial blow for companies with fewer than 250 workers but raised concerns about the value placed on human life.
The case that seemingly came to symbolize this issue was the death of Pete Reveles, a 47-year-old father, who perished in a tragic accident at a Buckeye cattle ranch. ADOSH initially imposed a roughly $22,000 fine on Arlington Cattle Company, following an inspection that determined the tragedy "could have been prevented if the employer provided training for employees on the hazards associated with the type of work." Subsequently, the ranch received a 70% reduction on the fine due, purely because it was a small enterprise with 15 employees. "It was gut-wrenching, to be honest," Covina Reveles, Pete's widow, said, according to an ABC15 interview, expressing disbelief upon hearing the discount decision.
This approach, however, now seems to have been freshly scrutinized. In a notable departure from tradition, Buildco LLC, a Phoenix-based company, was fined the full $11,162 for safety violations after a mechanic met his death under a dump truck. ABC15's coverage stressed this would have been reduced to under $4,000 if the former discount practice had been applied. The full fine was unanimously approved by the Industrial Commission, under which ADOSH operates. At the heart of this shift are new appointments to the Industrial Commission, with Chairman Dennis Kavanaugh and Director Guy Testini bringing fresh perspectives that align with a keener mission of protecting workers’ welfare.
As families of victims push for the eradication of these “discounts on death,” it seems they might just be gaining ground. "Anybody dying, it should not be discounted," Covina Reveles asserted, a sentiment that seems to resonate as state officials show signs of willingness to reassess these fine reductions. While the past practice of discounting fines aimed to spare smaller companies from crippling financial penalties, critics argue it sends a dangerous signal about the value attributed to workers' lives. "It's like basically saying their life wasn't worth anything. That’s not fair,” Covina Reveles told ABC15.
For families like the Reveles, no monetary amount could compensate for their loss. Yet these recent developments suggest that Arizona may be moving toward holding companies more accountable for workplace safety – a change that could start to send a stronger message about the state's commitment to worker protection.
