OSHA Cites Paving Company in Heat Fatality

The agency launched an investigation after an employee working on a parking lot paving job in Washington, D.C., suffered heat stress, was taken to a hospital, and died there.

LH Musser & Sons Inc., a paving company located in Clarksburg, Md., faces $6,900 in proposed fines and has been cited for one allegedly serious violation of OSHA's general duty clause following a heat-related fatality during a parking lot paving job in June in Washington, D.C. OSHA opened an inspection after an employee working on the job at a church located at 16th and Varnum Streets NW suffered heat stress, was taken to a hospital, and died there.

"This tragedy underscores the need for employers to ensure that workers have frequent access to water, rest, and shade to prevent heat illness and injuries during the hot summer months, and also why it is important that workers are trained to recognize and respond to the signs of heat-related illness," said Robert Szymanski, acting director of OSHA's Baltimore/Washington Area Office.

The Associated Press quoted Larry Musser, identified as one of the company's owners, as saying the employee who died was a friend of his and denying any wrongdoing.

According to OSHA, the serious violation involves allegedly failing to provide a program addressing heat-related hazards -- in this case, the workplace was the outdoors, where employees performed duties involving hot asphalt in direct sunlight. OSHA said the company did not maintain a work/rest regimen, train employees to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, or ensure employees consumed adequate amounts of water.

The company also was cited for one other-than-serious violation for failing to report the fatality to OSHA within eight hours.

To access OSHA heat illness educational materials in English and Spanish, as visit http://www.osha.gov/heat. OSHA also offers a free app for mobile devices that allows workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites, available for download in English and Spanish at http://www.osha.gov/heatapp.

Product Showcase

  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. Read More

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars