RURAL/METRO FIRE DEPT., INC.

According to U.S. Department of Labor enforcement records, RURAL/METRO FIRE DEPT., INC. — a fire protection facility located at 4141 N. GRANITE REEF RD., SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85251 — was the subject of a formal OSHA inspection that resulted in 11 citation(s) and cumulative proposed penalties of $54,500.00. The inspection case was opened on 2001-07-10.

Federal investigators determined that one or more violations at this facility were committed willfully — meaning the employer either knowingly failed to comply with OSHA standards or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Willful violations carry the highest penalty multipliers under the OSH Act.

BLS Injury Data: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), this industry sector has an occupational injury rate of 4.4 per 100 full-time workers — 63% above the national average of 2.7. The sector fatality rate is 1.7 per 100,000 workers.

Industry Benchmark: The total penalty of $54,500.00 is more than 35.9× the national average of $1,518.52 for facilities in the Public Admin sector (NAICS 922160). This sector encompasses 25,943 inspected facilities nationwide with aggregate penalties totaling $39.4M.

State Context: Within AZ, this facility's penalty places it at the 100th percentile among 28,263 inspected facilities. The statewide average penalty is $1,378.92.

Citation Analysis: The inspection produced 11 citations spanning 2 distinct OSHA regulatory standards. The citation breakdown includes: 1 willful — The employer intentionally and knowingly committed the violation, demonstrating either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the OSH Act or plain indifference to employee safety and health. 9 serious — A workplace hazard that could cause death or serious physical harm exists, and the employer knew or should have known about the condition. 1 other-than-serious — The violation has a direct relationship to job safety and health but is unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Enforcement Timeline: Citations were issued beginning April 13, 2001 with the latest abatement deadline set for May 30, 2001. Of the 11 total citations, 11 (100%) have been marked as abated in DOL records, indicating substantial compliance with corrective action requirements.

Penalty Assessment: The cumulative penalty of $54,500.00 reflects OSHA's gravity-based penalty calculation methodology, which considers the severity of potential injury, the probability of occurrence, the employer's size, good faith, and violation history. The per-citation average of $4,954.55 falls within the standard penalty range.

The enforcement profile for Rural/Metro Fire Dept., Inc. revealed a systemic breakdown in fundamental life-safety protocols, characterized by a significant willful violation and a cluster of serious infractions regarding biohazard exposure. The assessment of a $35,000 willful penalty—a high-gravity