Lake County Contractor Cited for Employee's Death

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Aldridge Electric, a Libertyville electric contractor, for not following federal workplace safety laws after a 36-year-old employee died of heat stroke while working on the Dan Ryan branch of the CTA's Red Line project this past summer, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Aldridge Electric faces a $7,000 fine because it did not have "an adequate and effective heat stress program," and failed to make sure a new employee "was acclimatized to effects of heat and physical exertion," according to the Lake County News Sun. 

Ronald Guyton, 36, of Aurora became ill on the first day of his job with Aldridge on June 24 while "carrying and installing heavy electrical conduit piping," according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Guyton was transported to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Aurora Beacon News.  Guyton's autopsy showed he died of heat stroke and obesity was a contributing factor to his death, according to the article. 

The Chicago Tribune, Lake County News-Sun and Aurora Beacon News have more on this story.