The tragedy of Mike Olver's death at the APS Redhawk Power Plant continues to resonate, as state regulators have now issued safety violations to both Arizona Public Service (APS) and Bay Valve, the company Olver was contracted with when he died. According to an ABC15 investigation, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) found that a guardrail, from which Olver fell approximately 18 feet to his death, was a full 11 inches shorter than safety standards require, during a job that was supposed to last 10 days but ended in his untimely passing just three days in.
Both companies were fined $11,524 each following the issuance of serious worker safety citations in Olver's case, he was a senior valve mechanic who had been removing equipment on a crane with three other employees, and one of the citations related specifically to the insufficient height of the guardrail which ultimately played a role in the fatal incident. In response to the findings, APS conveyed their condolences and reiterated their commitment to safety in a statement obtained by ABC15, stating, "Our hearts go out to Mr. Olver’s family for the pain they’re going through," also noting they had yet to review the report.
Olver's family, described by his daughter Falon as centered around "a great human, great person, always the life of the party," has been seeking clarity on the events of November 7th which led to his untimely death, according to 12News Jennifer Olver, Mike's wife, last spoke with him the morning of the accident, and after a brief text exchange about Thanksgiving plans, the next call she received bore the harrowing news, while the Maricopa County Medical Examiner ruled Olver's death an accident resulting from blunt force trauma.
The Olver family continues to express their desire to understand the exact circumstances of the accident, and more importantly, to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated, with Jennifer Olver wondering, "What exactly happened? Why did he fall? How did he fall? What could have been done to prevent that from happening?" as she told 12News. Their quest for answers persists amidst the sorrowful backdrop of a fatal workplace incident that could have been perhaps averted with stricter adherence to safety standards.
