Elevator Pitch

• A Fortune investigation reveals how The Boring Company avoided major OSHA penalties for chemical burns suffered by firefighters in its Las Vegas tunnels after high-level intervention from Nevada’s Governor’s office, raising concerns about regulatory independence and worker safety.

Key Takeaways

• After two firefighters suffered chemical burns during a Boring Company tunnel drill, Nevada OSHA issued large fines, which were quickly rescinded following intervention from company leadership and the Governor’s office.
• Documentation of high-level meetings and the rationale for dropping the penalties was altered or omitted, breaking standard regulatory procedures and alarming OSHA staff and former officials.
• Ongoing safety incidents and a "cowboy" work culture persist at Boring Company sites, with current and former employees reporting frequent chemical burns and lack of adequate safety protocols.

Most Memorable Quotes

• “There is a defined process, and we didn’t follow it. It wasn’t the agency that decided to do that—it was above the agency.”
• “It’s absolutely not appropriate.” — Jess Lankford, Chief Administrative Officer of Nevada OSHA until 2021
• “It seems like people are going to have to die, because they won’t make sh*t safe for us.” — Current Boring employee