OSHA cites postal service in Mo. carrier’s death

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed a $70,000 fine against the U.S. Postal Service in the death of a mail carrier who had complained about feeling ill from the heat.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the fine Monday in the July 24 death of 57-year-old John Watzlawick of Blue Springs. He collapsed on his route in Independence a day after he had asked to be relieved because of the heat.

The high temperature July 24 was 104 degrees.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/R3d2dQ ) the Jackson County medical examiner found that Watzlawick had a body temperature of 108 degrees when he was taken to the emergency room. A heart attack was ruled a secondary cause of death.

A regional spokesman for The Postal Service said it will contest the citation.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com