Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314778903 - Cookson Company

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Charlotte

Investigation Summary

On July 20, 2010, Employee #1 was working at a door and window manufacturing facility. He worked in the company's maintenance department and had been employed for approximately four years. He worked the afternoon shift, from 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., and on the day of the incident he had arrived at work between 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. It was reported that the last person to see Employee #1 alive was a coworker, who stated that he had spoken with Employee #1 at 5:15 p.m. In his observation there appeared to be nothing wrong at that time. The second shift supervisor also indicated that he had seen Employee #1 at 5:00 p.m. He, too, had noted no problems. The supervisor stated that at 6:30 p.m. he was looking for Employee #1, because there was a piece of equipment in need of repair. He indicated that he tried calling Employee #1 on his cell phone but got no response. He then went in search of Employee #1. At 6:45 p.m., he found him slumped over in the compressor room, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed at the ankles and his back propped up against a large air circulation fan. He stated that he realized Employee #1 was not responding, so he called another employee, who knew CPR. That employee started CPR while the supervisor called emergency medical services. The supervisor stated that he noticed nothing odd in the room that may have contributed to Employee #1's death. According to the report filed by Gaston County EMS (GEMS), they were notified at 6:51 p.m. and responded by 6:59 p.m. The GEMS report indicated that they determined that Employee #1 was dead from an apparent heart attack on their arrival, and they got approval to stop CPR. The Gastonia Fire Department and Gastonia Police Department also responded to the scene. The police conducted a fatality investigation; they also determined that Employee #1 had died of an apparent heart attack. During interviews with other employees, the compliance officer was informed that Employee #1 had on a previous occasion, March 30, 2010, been taken by ambulance from the facility after he had experienced a seizure at work.

Keywords: CPR, HEART ATTACK, MECH MAT HANDLING