Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1596145.015 - Leonard Biar

Inspection Information - Office: Austin Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 3:15 p.m. on May 16, 2022, an employee was working as a helper installing interior walls, ceilings and doors at a multi-employer construction site for a new commercial building. It was the employee's first day of work, and the worksite was in direct sunlight with no shade available other than within the employees' vehicles. The employee reported that he was not feeling well and had stopped sweating. The employee was killed from heat stroke at some point after finishing the work shift because he was not acclimated to the heat that he was exposed to in his working environment. Over the period of exposure during the work shift, the heat index ranged from 71 to 96 degrees F. Coworkers reported that the employee had consumed a Gatorade and water at the first morning break, a Gatorade at lunch, and another bottle of water at the time that the employee reported he was not feeling well. Water and Gatorade were provided on site by the employer but the employee was not trained on how to identify the symptoms of heat illness and their severity.

Keywords: Construction, Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, Heat index, Heat-related illness , Installing, Multi-employer Worksite, Unacclimatized, Untrained