On Thursday, September 24, the Greater Flagstaff Chamber hosted its second quarterly Construction Industry Trades Roundtable, bringing together a diverse group of industry leaders for a productive conversation about the challenges, opportunities, and priorities shaping the region’s construction industry.

With more than 100 Chamber members representing the construction trades, this roundtable provides opportunities to:

• Connect and build relationships with fellow industry professionals
• Receive updates on issues affecting the construction sector locally and statewide
• Learn about advocacy efforts impacting your business
• Share challenges, opportunities, and industry insights with peers.

This quarter we invited The Industrial Commission of Arizona, one of the oldest agencies in the State, charged with regulating and administering the workers’ compensation system, workplace safety, and labor laws that employers need to understand.

Director Testini provided an overview of the agency and highlighted key areas Arizona employers should know about these programs, such as:

Workers’ Compensation
The agency regulates the interactions between injured workers and their employers, including any agents representing the employer. Important areas to consider included:

• Who should have coverage
• What to expect if your employee suffers an injury
• Timely responses
• Bad faith
• Disputes
• Fraud
• Resource Office

Workplace Safety
The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH), a division of the agency, regulates workplace safety. Oversight is done through three programs:

• Compliance
• Consultation
• Partnership Programs

Labor
The Labor Department serves the workers and employers of Arizona by conducting thorough, expedient, and impartial investigations related to:

• Wages
• Unpaid wages
• Equal pay
• Payment Compliance
• Earned paid sick time
• Minimum wage
• Youth labor
• Retaliation

Gaetano Testini was appointed by Governor Hobbs as the Director of the Industrial Commission of Arizona in September 2023. Prior to this appointment he served the Industrial Commission of Arizona as the Chief Counsel, and as an Administrative Law Judge. He is certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a workers' compensation specialist, and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Workers' Compensation Advisory Board. Mr. Testini served on the State Bar of Arizona's Board of Governors. He is a 2010-2011 graduate of the State Bar of Arizona's Bar Leadership Institute, and the inaugural class of the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy and has returned to the program as an instructor. Mr. Testini serves as an adjunct professor for Grand Canyon University, and for Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law.