The U. S.

Occupational Health and Safety confirmed approximately 1 to 3 persons die each week
while on the job. Currently, Arizona has one of the lowest occupational safety and health death rates per
capita compared to other states across the nation. The most populated metropolitan area Maricopa
County has one of highest death rates across the nation, approximately 1% per 100,000 persons where the
leading cause of deaths are accidental. With an increasing rate of homicide and suicidal deaths, Arizona
has to implement more preventive measures to insure the safety of persons in Arizona.
Currently, the Arizona Revised Statutes offers very little legislation regarding occupational safety
and health standards. According to the Arizona Industrial Commission, all occupational safety and health
regulations are concurrent with the nations U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
standards. However, on any given day, a person can enter an establishment or workplace and find
employers neglectful of moral and physical hazards. It is not uncommon for business and building
owners to overlook safety inspections. In recent years, Arizona has climbing rates of elevator
malfunctions and decreasing elevator inspections. While employers are crying for remedy, the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers less rigid regulations. As previously reported, fire
safety equipment replacement requirements are now every 5 to 12 years, rather than every 3 to 5 years for
most fire equipment. Regular monthly and annual inspections are still required and recommended.
However, a person today can enter almost any establishment and notice that most industrial and safety
equipment are not inspected timely in Arizona. The Arizona Revised Statue offers Arizonans the
following public building and safety equipment inspections statues:

36-1638. Local Ordinances:

This article does not supersede any city, town or county ordinance which is equal to or greater than the
standards prescribed in this article, nor does this article prohibit a city, town or county from inspecting
pursuant to its ordinance.

36-1641. Safety Construction in Public Buildings; Violations; Classification:

A. The doors of all school houses, churches, theaters, public auditoriums and other public buildings shall
be constructed so they may open outward. All screens, bars or other coverings of windows of such
buildings, other than a place of legal imprisonment or confinement, shall be so constructed that they may
be easily and quickly opened from the inside.
B. It is unlawful for any such building to be constructed, used or occupied unless the doors and windows
are constructed in compliance with subsection A.
C. A person owning, using or permitting the use of a building contrary to the provisions of this section is
guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

Currently the only other remedies under Arizona laws require local city ordinances to offer inspections by
request and many cities will inspect public buildings and/or equipment for a fee. Other cities in other
counties have regular annual inspections for most public buildings. Perhaps Arizonans can elect for
employers to offer more incentives for health and safety regulations at a local level. Perhaps employers
could pay directly into a medical system to cover employees and their families and receive corporate tax
incentives. We could call the incentive a partnership which requires more corporate governance toward a
healthier and safer community. Right now, Arizonans are open to other options to curve its death rate.

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