Heat Fatalities [Map]
[Last Updated: 08/04/2014]
This map shows locations of outdoor worker, heat-related fatalities between 2008 and 2014. It is not an exhaustive list of all worker fatalities from heat exposure during this time period. It includes only those fatalities that involve workers who are covered by either the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Federal OSHA) or a State OSHA plan. Some fatalities reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are outside Federal and State plan OSHA jurisdiction and are not included. In addition, reporting and update timeframes for the Federal OSHA information systems used to generate this map vary from BLS and are based on the circumstances of the case, which may result in inconsistencies.
The map provides a geographic reminder that Water.Rest.Shade and the acclimatization of workers are vital to providing a safe and healthful environment when working outdoors in the heat. For each fatality, basic information about the type of workplace, work task, and work conditions is provided if available. This information was drawn from both preliminary and final investigation reports. Links to available inspection data are provided for incidents recorded on OSHA's Statistics & Data webpage.
Select a location and click on the pin to view the incident information box. You can also close the box by clicking on the pin. To move the information box, click and drag the box to the desired position. A text version of the information presented on this map is also available.
Date | Region | City/State | Industry | Inspection No. | Summary of Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7/11/2014 | 9 | Yucaipa, CA | Sanitary Services, Not Elsewhere Classified | 317729887 | Possible heat fatality investigation. Worker was engaged in asbestos remediation. |
6/30/2014 | 5 | Detroit, MI | Landscaping Services | 312049026 | Possible heat fatality investigation. Worker was operating a weed whipper on his first day on the job. |
6/24/2014 | 9 | Healdsburg, CA | Other Building Finishing Contractors | 315831867 | Possible heat fatality investigation. Worker was performing dry wall finishing tasks. |
6/2/2014 | 9 | Hanford, CA | Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors | 316728484 | Possible heat fatality investigation. Worker was performing steel connection tasks. |
8/22/2013 | 6 | Kingsville, TX | New Multifamily Housing Construction (except Operative Builders) | 933966 | An employee on a construction site died of heat related illness. |
7/24/2013 | 2 | Brooklyn, NY | Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers | 922211 | An employee who had been working for several hours on a conveyor line suffered heat illness and died. There was a week-long heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service. |
7/17/2013 | 5 | Hartland, WI | Landscaping Services | 920648 | Possible heat fatalitiy investigation. |
7/17/2013 | 5 | Greenfield, IN | Building and Remodeling | 317055317 | Worker died of heat related illness. |
7/9/2013 | 1 | Medford, MA | United States Postal Service | 917092 | A letter carrier collapsed after walking his route for approximately 5 hours with a mail bag weighing up to 35 pounds. He died of heat stroke. The area was under a heat advisory from the National Weather Service. |
7/6/2013 | 3 | Norfolk, VA | Ship Building and Repairing | 917201 | A worker performing cleanup operations on a ship’s deck collapsed and later died. The heat index reported by NOAA reached a high of 97 degrees Fahrenheit. |
7/5/2013 | 9 | Richgrove, CA | Orange groves | 316724020 | Possible heat fatalitiy investigation. |
7/2/2013 | 9 | Five Points, CA | Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders | 316723956 | Worker died of heat related illness. |
6/29/2013 | 9 | Yuba City, CA | Concrete Work | 316523703 | Worker died of heat related illness. |
6/26/2013 | 5 | Chicago, IL | Electrical contractors | 914943 | A newly rehired employee was engaged in work involving lifting, carrying, and installing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. The employee died of heat stroke. |
6/25/2013 | 6 | Golden Meadow, LA | General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload | 916923 | Truck driver died of heat related illness. |
6/20/2013 | 9 | Desert Center, CA | Electrical contractors | 316212521 | Worker died of heat related illness. |
6/13/2013 | 5 | Salesville, OH | Support activities for oil and gas operations | 911745 | Worker engaged in construction activities died of heat related illness. |
6/13/2013 | 6 | Houston, TX | Solid waste collection | 912111 | A temporary worker who was collecting garbage suffered heat stroke. |
6/6/2013 | 3 | Reinholds, PA | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | 910745 | Worker engaged in bull dozer and pickup truck operation died of heat related illness. |
6/6/2013 | 6 | Big Spring, TX | Crude petroleum and natural gas extraction | 910731 | Employees were exposed to excessive environmental heat conditions during oil and gas well drilling activities and rig movement activities. One of the workers died of heat related illness. |
8/22/2012 | 5 | Miamisburg, OH | Roofing Contractors | 589300 | A temporary employee was working on the roof on his first day on the job, he was throwing roofing material off the roof into a dump truck. He developed heat stroke and later died. |
8/21/2012 | 9 | Palm Desert, CA | Electrical Contractors | 316209188 | An employee who was digging trenches and installing conduits died of heat-related illness at the construction site. |
8/15/2012 | 5 | Kenosha, WI | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | 575598 | Worker performing outside painting activities died from a heart attack, possibly heat-related. |
8/7/2012 | 6 | Broken Arrow, OK | Framing Contractors | 574001 | Worker engaged in residential framing activities died of heat related illness. |
8/5/2012 | 5 | Alton, IL | Flour Milling | 555880 | Worker fell 60-70 feet and died. Heat stress is a possible contributing factor. |
7/31/2012 | 3 | Logan, WV | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 550058 | Worker cutting down trees collapsed and died from a possible heat stroke. The investigation is ongoing. |
7/25/2012 | 7 | Independence, MO | Postal Service | 538158 | An unacclimatized employee collapsed while walking outdoors on a mail route, delivering mail from an enclosed vehicle without air-conditioning in excessive heat condition. |
7/13/2012 | 6 | Elm Mott, TX | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 542021 | Worker performing construction activities died possibly from heat stress. |
6/24/2012 | 6 | Fayetteville, AR | Landscape Architectural Services | 491698 | An employee performing installation of synthetic turf at an outdoor football practice facility died due to exposure to excessive heat. |
6/21/2012 | 6 | Blytheville, AR | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 490758 | Worker performing construction activities collapsed and died possibly from heat stress. |
6/20/2012 | 3 | Washington, DC | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 488420 | Worker was outside paving in 98 degrees Fahrenheit temperature with a heat index of 102 degrees Fahrenheit when he collapsed and eventually died of hyperthermia. |
6/15/2012 | 6 | Austin, TX | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 505899 | A highway construction worker died, possibly due to heat stress. |
6/15/2012 | 4 | Olive Hill , KY | Roofing Contractors | 315593343 | The employee collapsed while working on roof repairs. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Possible heat stress fatality. |
6/1/2012 | 2 | Hopewell, NJ | Employment Placement Agencies | 469439 | An employee collecting garbage on an outdoor route during an excessive heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service suffered a heat stroke and died |
6/1/2012 | 9 | Gilbert, AZ | Concrete Work | 316829910 | An employee picking up large metal brackets from a jobsite, was later found deceased from heat stress. |
5/22/2012 | 9 | Heber, CA | Farm Labor Contractors | 316553064 | Worker was harvesting cantaloupes outdoors. Possible heat stress fatality. |
5/19/2012 | 9 | Livemore, CA | Catering | 315318063 | Worker catering an all-day outdoor event died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
10/12/2011 | 9 | Nipomo, CA | Remediation services | 314827163 | Worker performed duties of a general laborer. Possible heat stress fatality. |
9/23/2011 | 9 | West Sacramento, CA | Farm Labor | 314573205 | Field laborer harvesting pistachios died, possibly due to heat illness. |
8/29/2011 | 6 | Billings , OK | Drilling oil and gas wells | 314936295 | The employee was working under the sub-frame of the drilling rig, in the shade. He complained about burning up inside. Possible heat stress fatality. Drug use may have also been a factor. |
8/23/2011 | 9 | Rancho Mirage, CA | Concrete work | 313513954 | Construction worker resurfacing road collapsed and died, possibly due to heat stress. |
8/23/2011 | 6 | Davis, OK 75030 | Special Trade Contractors | 314934662 | Worker assembling a fabric building structure became ill and died, possibly due to heat stress. |
8/17/2011 | 2 | Sands Point, NY | Golf Courses and Country Club | 315669572 | Golf club worker died from cardiac arrest due to a heat stroke. |
8/5/2011 | 6 | Pearland, TX | Landscaping | 315722330 | Employee doing landscaping work collapsed and later died. The preliminary cause of death is hyperthermia. |
7/25/2011 | 6 | Clarendon, AR | Sawmill | 315715078 | Worker died possibly due to a heat-related illness after working on a sawmill machine. |
7/20/2011 | 6 | Edmond , OK | Plastering, drywall and insulation | 314933474 | Employee collapsed after working in the heat. |
7/19/2011 | 4 | Glasgow, KY | Tire Retreading and repair shops | 314957853 | Worker was changing a tractor tire. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/18/2011 | 5 | Mendota Heights, MN | Landscaping | 315719534 | Worker collapsed while trimming bushes and raking, and later died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/16/2011 | 6 | Rogers, AR | Masonry Contractors | 123448706 | Worker performing construction activities collapsed and died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/13/2011 | 4 | Magnolia, NC | Turkey production | 315451484 | Farm worker experienced light-headedness and confusion while collecting eggs. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/13/2011 | 4 | Charlotte, NC | Roofing Contractors | 315685446 | Worker was working on a roofing project. He was cleaning up roofing materials on the ground. He fell unconscious and died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/12/2011 | 3 | Camp Hill, PA | Roofing, siding and sheet metal work contractors | 314246851 | Worker possibly died from heat stress while repairing a school roof. |
7/8/2011 | 6 | Beaumont, TX | Masonry Contractors | 312928443 | A bricklayer laborer, working on a 24-foot scaffold collapsed. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/7/2011 | 6 | Mineral Wells, TX | Forestry Services | 314279589 | A firefighter, was on-foot, working with a crew that checked for fires that could be put out, when he suddenly collapsed. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/7/2011 | 9 | Blythe, CA | Farming | 313513244 | The worker was driving a tractor that pulled a farm harvesting machine, he collapsed and later died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
6/24/2011 | 6 | Stonewall, OK | Oil and Gas Industry | 314933250 | Worker drilling oil inside an oil well collapsed and later died. Possible heat stress fatality. |
6/1/2011 | 4 | Coats, NC | Tree Cutting | 315450593 | Worker cutting trees in 100-degree weather fell unconscious and later died from heat stroke. |
5/31/2011 | 3 | Wharncliffe, WV | Natural Gas Distribution | 315224170 | Worker performing maintenance at a natural gas compressor station died after complaining about the heat and major pain in his arm, chest, and stomach. Possible heat stress fatality. |
5/25/2011 | 4 | Hendersonville, NC | Highway and street construction | 315505354 | Worker was outside paving, became disoriented and was taken to the hospital. Possible heat stress fatality. |
5/11/2011 | 7 | Festus, MO | Landscaping | 315651208 | Worker moving a trailer loaded with straw bales collapsed and died, possibly from heat stress. |
5/11/2011 | 5 | Macomb, IL | Building Maintenance Services | 314851197 | Worker repairing air conditioning units died from a heart attack; possibly heat-related. |
5/9/2011 | 7 | Rose Hill, KS | Roofing Contractors | 315087585 | Worker reroofing a residential structure died, possibly from a heat stroke. |
4/21/2011 | 4 | Plant City, FL | Farm Labor | Worker was picking strawberries and fainted. Possible heat stress fatality. | |
9/17/2010 | 6 | El Dorado, AR | All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services | 314914128 | Employee was part of an industrial cleaning crew. After leaving the work site, he collapsed, exhibiting symptoms of heat stroke. |
8/18/2010 | 6 | Jourdanton, TX | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | 314301763 | The employee was performing archaeological digs. He was found unconscious and transported to a hospital where he died as a result of heat stress. |
8/5/2010 | 10 | Puyallup, WA | Refuse Systems | 314487018 | An employee was working as a helper on a residential garbage truck run and began acting irrationally. Emergency Services discovered that his body temperature was in excess of 108 degrees Fahrenheit. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. |
8/4/2010 | 6 | Vidor, TX | Landscaping services | 312923824 | The worker was in the process of clearing tree branches along a heavily forested area when he said he was not feeling well. He sat under a tree and slumped. He was taken to the hospital where he died as a result of hyperthermia. |
8/4/2010 | 6 | Marshall, TX | Brick and structural clay tile | 314178419 | Employee collapsed with seizures and was transferred to the hospital and died from heat stroke. |
8/4/2010 | 6 | Moscow, TX | Sawmills | 314542747 | Worker was complaining of being hot and was later found unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital where he apparently died from heat stress complications. |
8/2/2010 | 4 | Moss Point, MS | Concrete work | 313632184 | Worker was constructing curb and gutter work in preparation for a concrete pour. Worker was found later, collapsed; hyperthermia was listed as cause of death. |
7/22/2010 | 3 | Welch, WV | Other specialty trade contractors | 313374381 | Employee was working to install a fiber optic line and became unconscious. Possible heat stress fatality. |
7/16/2010 | 6 | Alexandria, LA | Industrial building construction | 313031304 | A construction worker was cleaning up the jobsite by picking up lumber and other debris. He was seen lying on the ground unconscious, possibly due to heat stress. |
7/15/2010 | 6 | Houston, TX | Air conditioning and heating | 314426644 | An employee was performing maintenance services on an air conditioning unit and was found dead. It was later determined that heat stress was the cause of death. |
7/15/2010 | 9 | Hermitage, AR | Farm | 314528068 | The worker was removing stakes and strings from the fields, collapsed and later died as a result of heat stroke. |
7/14/2010 | 9 | Beaumont, CA | Bridge/tunnel and highway construction | 313509622 | An employee suffered a heart attack at work, possibly due to heat, and died. |
7/9/2010 | 5 | Springfield, IL | Concrete work | 312893852 | The worker was setting anchor bolts into a 4-foot concrete-formed wall, collapsed, and fell backwards. Worker possibly suffered from heat exposure. |
7/8/2010 | 3 | Biglerville, PA | Deciduous Tree Fruits | 113737969 | Worker was pulling weeds in a fruit tree nursery field. He died from hyperthermia. |
7/6/2010 | 3 | Rices Landing, PA | other services to buildings and dwellings | 314109109 | A construction worker installing a swimming pool, died from heat stroke. |
6/28/2010 | 3 | Ridgeway, VA | Roofing, siding and sheet metal work | 314620881 | The worker was working on a roof when he collapsed against a wall. An ambulance arrived at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Possible heat stress fatality. |
6/17/2010 | 4 | Lawrenceville, GA | Temporary Help Services | 314204215 | The employee was working on a project consisting of pressure washing and sorting trash cans. The employee was taken to the hospital where he stayed until being pronounced dead of environmental heat stroke, delayed effect. |
5/27/2010 | 3 | Parkersburg, WV | Excavating work | 313377343 | The worker spent majority of the day dragging concrete after it was poured. Another employee noticed him wobbling as he was standing. Emergency responders transferred him to the hospital where he later died due to complications associated with hyperthermia. |
5/26/2010 | 5 | Joliet, IL | Lawn and garden services | 314035650 | The worker was mowing lawns in a residential area. He became disoriented and was taken to a shaded area where he collapsed. He was transported to the hospital where he later died of multiple organ failure due to heat stroke. |
5/24/2010 | 5 | Pewaukee, WI | Roofing, siding, sheet metal work | 313529075 | The worker was preparing and pouring a concrete patio when he began to show signs of heat stress. He lost consciousness and later died at a major trauma center. |
5/12/2010 | 9 | Carson, CA | Landscaping | Worker began vomiting and shaking, possibly from heat stress. He was moved to the shade and first aid was administered. He later died. | |
9/24/2009 | 9 | Los Angeles, CA | Concrete Work | 313379687 | A male carpenter employee, was working at a large construction site. He was found lying on the ground and pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner's report included "probable heat stroke" with "signs of dehydration" in the cause of death. |
9/23/2009 | 9 | Los Angeles, CA | Marine Cargo Handling | 312314602 | An employee was working with a crew transferring the contents of boxes of blenders to a new shipping container on a hot day. The employee collapsed after returning from lunch break. The coroner's report lists heart attack as the cause of death, with heat as a possible contributing factor. |
9/2/2009 | 3 | Manheim, PA | Landscaping services | 312505993 | A grounds man, was working with a coworker pruning trees. He collapsed and was hospitalized for heat stroke. He later died. |
8/14/2009 | 6 | Pearland, TX | Concrete work | 311965297 | A construction laborer was shoveling soil out of shallow trenches that were excavated by machines for residential foundations. He suffered heat exhaustion and fell to the ground. The medical examiner's office indicated that he was dead on arrival to the hospital. |
8/13/2009 | 4 | Lawrenceville, GA | Masonry Contractors | 312531197 | The worker was returning from his break, when he collapsed. He was transported to the hospital where he later died. The medical report indicated death due to the delayed effects of heat stroke. |
8/12/2009 | 6 | Richmond, TX | Structural Steel Erection | 311964886 | The worker was found unresponsive on a scaffold in a residential water tank where he was welding the interior overhead of the tank. Emergency services were summoned, but he could not be revived. The medical examiner determined that the preliminary cause of death was hyperthermia. |
8/11/2009 | 3 | Nathalie, VA | Tobacco Farming | 313479495 | The employee was working in a tobacco field pruning tobacco leaves by hand. He collapsed, when he suddenly tried to seek shade. He died en route to the hospital. Possible heat stress fatality. |
8/11/2009 | 4 | Port Orange, FL | Landscaping services | The worker was doing landscaping services. He was later found collapsed in the company truck, possibly due to a heat stress. | |
7/15/2009 | 6 | Austin, TX | Water well drilling | 312852924 | A construction worker was found unresponsive in a vehicle. He died from heat exhaustion. |
6/23/2009 | 5 | Yorkville, IL | Highway, street and bridge construction | 312726920 | A construction laborer was working with a road patch crew, he was signaling traffic when he fell to one knee. The employee refused medical attention up to the point of loss of consciousness and convulsions. Emergency medical services responded and transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, possibly due to heat stress. |
6/19/2009 | 5 | Valley City, IL | Single family housing construction | 312888159 | The worker was engaged in concrete pouring operations for a residential foundation. The employee began stumbling, was disoriented and fell to the ground. Emergency services were notified and the employee was taken by helicopter to the hospital. The employee later died possibly due to heat stress. |
8/27/2008 | 4 | Boynton Beach, FL | Field Crops | 312149024 | An employee was working as a farm laborer. He was noticed on the ground laying on his back and foaming through the mouth. According to the examiner's office, the employee died of hyperthermia. |
8/2/2008 | 9 | Thermal, CA | Farm Labor Contractors | 310603774 | A farm laborer, died allegedly of heat-related illness. |
7/11/2008 | 9 | Carmichael, CA | Commercial and Institutional building construction | 311862262 | The worker was an unacclimatized laborer. He collapsed while hand-excavating footings, outdoors. He was transported to a medical center, where he was diagnosed with heat stroke, hospitalized and later died. |
7/11/2008 | 9 | Las Vegas, NV | Roofing Contractors | 312279649 | An employee was a foreman at a roofing job. At the end of the day he collapsed. He was transported to the medical center where he died. The coroner's office listed the cause of death as environmental heat stress. |
7/10/2008 | 9 | Bakersfield, CA | Farm Labor Contractors | 310826730 | The worker was loading boxes of grapes to a truck. He sustained heat exhaustion and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He later died from a heat stroke. |
7/9/2008 | 9 | Delano, CA | Grape vineyards | 310827399 | After manually loading fruit boxes onto a truck, the worker was a passenger on the truck transporting the grapes to cold storage. The coworker reported that the worker could not be awakened. Emergency responders arrived, but were unable to revive him. |
7/8/2008 | 9 | Tracy, CA | General warehousing and storage | 310552534 | The employee was a mechanic working in the service bay area of the truck maintenance shop. He died from a heat stroke. |
7/8/2008 | 9 | Fort Irwin, CA | Help Supply Services | 310607114 | The employee was assigned to work as a laborer erecting large rental tents in military training areas when he became very ill. The coroner's report identified acute renal failure as the cause of death with contributing cause of hypertension and dehydration. |
7/2/2008 | 4 | Miami, FL | Appliance repair and maintenance | 312147705 | The worker was installing armor flex around the copper pipes located at the back of the condenser unit when he fell to the ground. Possible heat stress fatality. |
6/30/2008 | 9 | Arlington, AZ | Oil and gas pipeline related structure | 312388465 | The worker (a laborer) was part of a crew assigned to unload 40-pound sand bags from a truck. He became unresponsive and displayed signs of heat stress and a possible heart attack. He was air-evacuated to the hospital where he died. |
6/6/2008 | 4 | Grantsboro, NC | Colleges and Universities | 311939763 | After teaching a class, a fire instructor collapsed. The cause of death was apparently cardiac arrest, resulting from heat exhaustion. |
5/27/2008 | 4 | Oak Island, NC | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 311937551 | The decedent was a temporary employee who assisted with checking the grade during road paving. Coworkers noticed that he was not sweating and his skin was clammy. He was told to take a break after which he returned to work. He was later found lying on the ground. He died at the hospital. |
5/16/2008 | 9 | Mckittrick, CA | Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction | 310201561 | The worker apparently experienced a heat-related illness on his first day on the job. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. |
5/14/2008 | 9 | Farmington, CA | Farm Labor Contractors | 310551346 | The worker died due to an unspecified heat related illness. |