Safety shortcomings | Construction firm fined after fatal bee attack on worker

A Goodyear Arizona-based construction company has been cited for safety violations after a deadly bee attack at a Scottsdale job site in July left one worker dead and others injured.

The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) issued $15,370 in fines against C&J Builders following the incident, which happened in July. Investigators found the company failed to provide protective gear or warn workers about the risks of bee exposure.

The report said three employees were endangered while working outside an assisted living facility when a swarm attacked. One of the workers, 65-year-old Nicolas Lopez Zoto, later died from his injuries.

Workers attacked while handling beehive site

According to the investigation, the crew had been called to the site to assist with a beehive located inside a concrete column. Two employees were using a hydraulic lift to remove part of the structure so that a beekeeper could spray the hive the following day.