North Carolina authorities have quietly agreed to nearly eliminate the fines levied against a farm after a worker died in extreme heat.
José Arturo Gonzalez Mendoza was a 30-year-old Mexican migrant worker on a temporary agriculture visa when he died on Sept. 5, 2023, harvesting sweet potatoes in 94-degree heat. Following an investigation, North Carolina’s Department of Labor issued a whopping $187,500 fine against his employer, Barnes Farming, for “willful” and “serious” violations of worker safety rules.
But this spring, the state and company agreed to a settlement that wipes out the most significant violations and requires Barnes to pay just $3,750 — roughly 2 percent of the initial fine.
Mendoza’s death, and the subsequent citation, became a hot topic in last year’s race for North Carolina labor commissioner, who oversees workplace safety and enforces federal labor laws.
