Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1500880.015 - 111497 - Lochmueller Group Incorporated

Inspection Information - Office: Indiana Department Of Labor

Investigation Summary

On October 21, 2020, an employee who had worked as a CADD/Engineering Technician for an Engineering Firm died from COVID-19. The employee worked at a desk creating drawings for staff engineers. On Saturday, October 3, 2020, the employee, Coworker #1 and Coworker #2 began to feel ill. On Sunday, October 4, 2020, the employee and one of the Coworker #1 began to exhibit COVID-19 related symptoms. On October 5, 2020, the employee, Coworker #1 and Coworker #2 called off sick. October 5, 2020, the employee received a positive COVID-19 test result and notified his employer. Due to the positive test and 3 people off sick, the employer gathered information and management made the decision to close the office. At approximately 11:00 a.m. on that date, all the employee's coworkers were sent home and the office was closed. Over the course of the next week and a half 11 additional coworkers tested positive for COVID-19 for a total of 13 cases (the narrative did not indicate if Coworker #2 was one of the cases). On Friday, October 9, 2020, the employee and Coworker #1 were admitted to the hospital. The employee was admitted into the intensive care COVID-19 unit and remained there until he died. Coworker #1 was released on October 11, 2020. The employer was not able to determine the source of the employee's infection. The employer had policies in place that exceeded CDC recommendations and they enforced those policies.

Keywords: Infectious Disease