Investigations of the safety precautions taken by businesses may be conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for many different reasons. Sometimes they are the result of a complaint that has been filed by someone at the location. Other times they are conducted at random. One catalyst that almost always results in an OSHA investigation is the occurrence of a workplace accident that results in serious accidents. This is particularly true when a death occurs.

Late last month a Pennsylvania man died while taking part in a first responder training. The man who was employed as a handyman by PPL Utilities was also a member of the business' fire brigade. His participation in the first- responder safety course was a requirement of that membership.

At some point during the training the man reportedly needed medical attention, including CPR. As a part of that treatment he was actually transferred to a medical facility. It was there that he was sadly determined to be dead. It is not clear what specifically he was doing when he needed the medical attention. An autopsy determined the man's death was due to natural causes.

Despite the coroner's determination, the company nonetheless reported the death to OSHA. OSHA in turn decided to launch an investigation. The motivation behind it is to make sure there was nothing going on during the training that could have contributed to the death of the man. In addition to the action the man was engaged in when he fell ill, the agency will also look into the environment and equipment being used.

The ultimate goal of the investigation, which needs to be completed within six months, is to see if there is anything that can be done to make future trainings safer.

Source: The Citizens' Voice, "OSHA Probes Death During Pa. First Responder Training," Bob Kalinowski, Nov. 29, 2012