Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313822397 - James Hope Dba Hope Family Farm

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

On August 10, 2009, Employee #1 was one of nine farm workers who were hand harvesting tobacco leaves in a field located in Clinton, NC. It was Employee #1's first day on the job. The employees entered the field at 6:00 a.m. and began stripping leaves from the stalks. At 8:30 a.m., the supervisor arrived at the field to haul, with a pick up truck, the loaded trailers of tobacco leaves from the field to the curing barns. The supervisor was driving the tractor through the field, hauling the trailers that were being filled with the cut leaves. At approximately 9:00 a.m., Employee #1 asked if he could drive the tractor, because he was feeling hot from the physical work. The supervisor allowed Employee #1 to drive the tractor until approximately 10:30 a.m., when Employee #1 said that he felt too hot and was experiencing a pain in his chest. The supervisor told Employee #1 to rest in the shade. At that point, Employee #1 drove his personal vehicle to a local store. When Employee #1 returned, he continued working, switching off between driving the tractor and hand harvesting leaves. At approximately 1:30 p.m., Employee #1 complained again of feeling hot and experiencing chest pains. Because the work was almost finished, Employee #1 left and again drove himself to the corner store. A few minutes after entering the store, he collapsed in the men's bathroom and was found experiencing labored breathing. Minutes later, someone administered CPR to Employee #1, until local EMS technicians arrived. EMS technicians transported Employee #1 to Sampson Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Keywords: CARDIOVASC SYSTEM, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, CPR, AGRICULTURE, HEART ATTACK, HARVESTER, CARDIAC ARREST, FAINTED