OSHA investigating death of warehouse employee in Ardmore

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) -- State and federal investigators are looking into the death of an employee at a discount store distribution center in southern Oklahoma.<br/><br/>The 43-year-old man -- whose name

Tuesday, August 23rd 2005, 6:19 am

By: News On 6

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) -- State and federal investigators are looking into the death of an employee at a discount store distribution center in southern Oklahoma.

The 43-year-old man -- whose name wasn't released -- died August 13th at Mercy Memorial Health Center. He worked at the Dollar General Corporation distribution center but was an employees of Oasis, a temporary agency contracted by Dollar General.

James Brown is Occupational Safety and Health Administration director in Oklahoma City. Brown says the man's death may have been heat-related.

State Medical Examiner Chief Investigator Kevin Rowland says the cause and manner of death are pending, and that a possible connection to heat hasn't been ruled out. Toxicology tests are being done.

Brown says inspectors visited the warehouse for a scheduled review within the last month, but that report isn't available yet.

The 1.2-million square-feet distribution center in Ardmore employs about 700 people.