Accident: 170046841 - Dies In Sleep

Employee #1 took some medication and lay down for a nap, from which she never awoke.

unconsciousness, drug overdose

Accident: 170006613 - Dies At Work Of Suspected Drug Overdose

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on March 13, 1998, Employee #1 was found dead in the Men's Room at work. A syringe, a bottle of alcohol, and a vial of brown liquid were found with him. The coroner's report stated that the causes of death were early hepatic cirrhosis, multiple substance misuse, and hepatitis C. The employer's accident prevention program specifically prohibited drug and alcohol use on the company's premises.

drug overdose, work rules, hepatitis, alcohol, liver

Accident: 200850188 - Dies Of Overdose Of Drugs And Alcohol

Employee #1 was on a catwalk, arranging lights on a lighting grid for a television production. He was pulling on a lighting electrical cable with a cord connector on the end when the connector became caught on a pipe in the grid. Employee #1 was tugging on the cable when it popped up, arched over, and struck him near his left eye and temple. He got down from the catwalk and reported to his supervisor. Ice was administered, and the supervisor urged Employee #1 to go to the hospital to have his injury checked. He said that he was okay, and the supervisor sent him home. Employee #1 died in his sleep that night of an overdose of cocaine and alcohol. After learning of this death, CBS reported the incident to OSHA. There was no indication in the autopsy report of trauma related to Employee #1's injury that would have caused his death.

drug overdose, alcohol, caught by, struck by, head, electrician, electric cord, flying object

Accident: 910232 - Dies Of Heart Attack Caused By Cocaine Use

Employee #1 and a coworker were pushing a portable Lincoln Ranger diesel-powered welding machine. According to a witness, Employee #1 had pushed the welder approximately 40 feet to an elevator when he suddenly fell to the floor. He was transferred to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to the coroner, Employee #1 died of a heart attack brought on by cocaine use.

heart, heart attack, construction, drug overdose

Accident: 201330024 - Dies Of Undetermined Cause

On August 19, 1996, Employee #1, who worked for SPS Temporary Services, was doing contract work at Heinz Bakery Products when he collapsed near the flash freezers and died. Although it was originally believed that high levels of carbon dioxide may have contributed to his death, full-shift sampling on multiple days revealed carbon dioxide levels of between 1,375 and 3,225 ppm, well below the 10,000 ppm safety threshold. At the time this report was written, the Erie County Medical Examiner believed Employee #1's death was due to either heart failure or to a drug overdose. He had a history of cardiovascular disease and had worn a pacemaker for the last 11 years. Marijuana was also found on Employee #1's person, and the Medical Examiner suspected that other drugs may have contributed to his death.

heart, heart attack, cardiovasc disease, drug overdose

Accident: 170382170 - Arm Fractured When Struck By Jack Pole

Employee #1, age 18, of Ellison Pipeline, Inc., was using a hydraulic Portapower and jacking pole to align the joint of some steel pipe at a cut and fill pipeline project. He was attempting to align the joint from the inside so a coworker could weld the pipe joints. Employee #1 was holding the jack pole while the power unit was being pumped. Two of the retaining bolts on the back of the cylinder sheared and the jack pole struck Employee #1, fracturing his forearm. He did not require hospitalization or surgery. Employee #1 tested positive for marijuana.

construction, sheared, bolt, struck by, fracture, forearm, work rules, equipment failure, drug overdose

Accident: 14239537 - Dies From Methamphetamine Toxicity

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE PARKING LOT OF HIS WORK PLACE. THE CORONER'S DETERMINATION WAS THAT EMPLOYEE #1 DIED OF METHAMPHETAMINE TOXICITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

construction, cardiovasc disease, drug overdose

Accident: 170698781 - Dies Of Drug Overdose

At about 11:45 a.m. on April 27, 1993, Employee #1 was found dead, lying face down on an unused bridge crane platform in the warehouse of Pan Metal Corp. He was at his worksite on the client's premises. No accident or related health and safety hazards or violations were found at the warehouse, where electrical power had been turned off for more than a year prior to the accident. The coroner's autopsy report, signed on August 3, 1993, listed the cause of death as cocaine intoxication.

drug overdose, warehouse

Accident: 817585 - Dies From Overexposure To Nitrous Oxide

Employee #1 died from overexposure to nitrous oxide. His death is under investigation by the New Haven Police Department as a possible overdose/suicide. The fatality was not related to OSHA because it occurred during non-working hours and because of its potential as a drug overdose.

inhalation, suicide, chemical, overexposure, drug overdose, nitrous oxide, asphyxiated

Accident: 930768 - Dies Of Self-Administered Drug Overdose

Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on January 29, 1993, Employee #1 was performing home health care at a patient's home when she administered an unknown amount of morphine to herself. She died of a drug overdose. It is suspected that the morphine was taken from the patient's medication, as 4 tablets of MS Contin (15 mg) and 24.5 cc of Roxinol (liquid), which are morphine products, were missing from the patient's inventory on January 31, 1993. After investigation by the Boulder Police, the Boulder Coroner, and the CSHO, this fatality was determined to be non-occupationally related and no citations were recommended.

drug overdose, work rules

Accident: 170694624 - Drowns During Recreational Swim

Employee #1 and a trained, experienced coworker were directed by their supervisor to clean moss from the surface of an approximately 150 ft by 150 ft by 6 ft deep man-made pond by throwing out weighted rope and pulling it back to the bank. The supervisor left , telling them not to go into the water, and that if he didn't return in 10 minutes, to go to the office and pick up their paychecks. After about 10 minutes, the coworker left Employee #1 to help another coworker who had asked for assistance in a field southeast of the pond. When the coworker returned after about 5 minutes, he saw Employee #1 dog-paddling in the water about 20 ft from the west bank. The coworker later stated that Employee #1 told him "he can't go any further and is swimming out." The coworker stated that Employee #1 said this in a very calm and serene manner. He then went under twice, without struggle or signs of distress. Rescue attempts were unsuccessful. It is assumed that Employee #1 entered the water for a recreational swim before picking up his paycheck. Drugs may have been a contributing factor to this accident.

swim, drown, work rules, cleaning, agriculture, drug overdose

Accident: 14311575 - Drowns In River When Tractor Jumps Curbing

Employee #1 drove a yard tractor up a ramp but failed to stop. The tractor struck and jumped the curbing and fell into the river. Employee #1 drowned. The autopsy showed a very high level of cocaine metabolite in his circulatory system.

longshoring, tractor, river, drown, drug overdose, lost control, ramp