3 Roofers Working On Delaware County School Hospitalized Due To Heat
By Kim Glovas, Stephanie Stahl, David Madden
UPPER CHICHESTER, Pa. (CBS) – Officials say three workers were hospitalized and a fourth was treated at the scene after being overcome by heat in Delaware County.
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Powers of the Boothwyn Fire Company says crews were called to Chichester Middle School, located along the 900 block of Meeting house Road in Upper Chichester, around 1 p.m.
One man, who was tarring the roof on one building, had collapsed and was lowered by Stokes basket. Powers says as that man was being stabilized, a second man on the roof collapsed. He was also taken down by Stokes basket.
Powers says as the second man was lowered, crews received word of another man on another building roof and a fourth man was under a tree trying to recover from the heat.
It's standard procedure for OSHA to begin an investigation when workers are taken to a hospital and kept overnight. Domenick Salvatore, the agency's regional administrator, says you shouldn't read too much into their action.
"United States Roofing Company has an extensive history, but not necessarily a bad OSHA history as compared with some other roofing employers," he explains.
There have been 51 inspections over the last 40 years. The two latest resulted in minor infractions reported in our region and in New York City.
More than two dozen employees of the Norristown based firm who were working on the roof at Chichester Middle School will be questioned and on-site inspectors will look at working conditions. The probe could take up to six months to complete.
Powers say the three men were taken to Crozer Chester Hospital for treatment and he expects they will make a full recovery.
