Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1265721.015 - Timberline Flooring

Inspection Information - Office: San Antonio Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on September 21, 2017, Employee #1 was performing manual activities that included the transport and movement of 25-pound PlaniPatch cement bags (floor prep), 5-gallon buckets of water, and small cleanup tasks on a worksite. He was working within the interior of a building, which was undergoing a new business build-out (new electrical, walls, floors, HVAC, etc.). Coworkers from the electrical contractor and sheetrock/ceiling contractor saw him hauling 25-pound PlaniPatch bags, three bags at a time, via a dolly from the front exterior of the building and traveling about 60 ft to the back interior portion of the building. Employee #1 has been performing this task multiple times during the morning hours. Later on, Employee #1 was found on the ground near the front interior area of the building, face down and unconscious by the electrical contractors who were leaving for lunch. The electrical contractors picked him up and he opened his eyes and seemed to be alert, but was in shock. The electrical contractor noted that his shirt was wet with perspiration. Emergency responders were called for possible heat exposure and the electrical contractors reported that they brought fans and water him while he was alert because they thought his illness may have been due to the heat. Once the paramedics and fire department arrived, Employee #1 lost consciousness again, began foaming at the mouth, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed by the paramedics. Employee #1 was transported to a medical center, where he died at 12:23 p.m. The cause of death was possibly due to heat-related illness. Employee #1 had a history of heart attack, having had one about three years ago. Autopsy findings for him indicated that he had a pre-existing health condition, specifically cardiovascular disease, as well as three-vessel coronary atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular atherosclerosis and cardiomegaly. Pre-existing health conditions can be exacerbated by performing heavy work under extreme heat conditions, leading to severe injury, illness, and death.

Keywords: Cardiovasc Disease, Cardiovasc System, Heart Attack, Heat, Heat Exhaustion