Timothy Barber, a 35-year-old worker assigned to the Genesee River Bridge Project in western New York, collapsed from heat exhaustion at the end of his shift July 7, 2020.
Barber was treated for heat stress, but later died from hyperthermia.
It was his second day on the job.
OSHA investigators found Barber was doing light duty work that day, sorting bolts in 90-plus degree temperatures.
He worked alone, without shade or water and wasn’t acclimated to the heat.
His employer didn’t provide training on extreme heat hazards, according to the Department of Labor.
Employers with workers exposed to high temperatures should have a heat illness prevention program that’s clearly communicated to supervisors and workers.
OSHA says three simple things – water, rest and shade – can save workers’ lives in extreme heat.
