Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313865446 - Nys Thruway Auth. Canal Corp.

Inspection Information - Office: Nys Dol Pesh Albany

Investigation Summary

At 7:00 a.m. on December 22, 2010, Employee #1 had started his shift at a canal in Ft. Edward, NY. He and some coworkers had a meeting regarding the day's activities. Subsequent to that, between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., he was working with a laborer to bring some lock valves into the shop. Employee #1 was running a forklift, and the laborer was opening overhead doors and performing other ground duty. At approximately 8:15 a.m., Employee #1 moved the forklift out of the shop, and the laborer closed the overhead door. Employee #1 reported that he did not feel well and turned off the forklift. At that time he lost consciousness. Canal Maintenance Supervisor 2 was notified and came out. A coworker reported that it appeared that Employee #1 was experiencing a seizure. Employee #1 was not responding, but he was still alive. The coworker called for emergency medical technicians, who arrived in about five minutes. They evaluated Employee #1 and took him off the forklift. The emergency medical technicians began administering CPR and other care. Employee #1 was subsequently transported to the hospital. The Ft. Edward Section Superintendent went to the hospital and learned that Employee #1 had been pronounced dead, due to a heart attack.

Keywords: CARDIOVASC SYSTEM, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, CPR, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, CANAL, HEART ATTACK, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK