Inspection Detail

Inspection: 2965689 - Joan Of Arc Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

On August 21, 1986, the first day of the sweet potato packing season, Employees #1 and #2, seasonal workers, were working as crate loaders at a canning plant. This facility packed asparagus in March and April and sweet potatoes from late August through November. Employee #1 was in a concrete and metal building in the packing area, where the temperature was estimated to be 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He had been assigned the task of keeping the can tracks unjammed. The task was not strenuous: it involved walking back and forth on a catwalk located above the processing equipment, shaking loose any cans that became stuck. Employee #2, age 19, was loading cans into crates and then placing the crates into retorts. Employee #1 had started this task at 8 a.m. and he collapsed at 2:40 p.m. Coworkers evaluated his condition for 40 minutes before calling the rescue squad at 3:20 p.m. Employee #1 was pronounced dead at 4:13 p.m., having suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Employee #2 also became ill and was transported by company officials to the hospital, where he was treated for heat exhaustion.

Keywords: HEART, HEART ATTACK, WORK RULES, HEAT EXHAUSTION, HIGH TEMPERATURE