A North Carolina woman was found unresponsive in a bathroom after working her shift for the U.S. Postal Service.
On June 6, Wednesday, “Wendy” Johnson, 51, passed away at Cape Fear Valley Hospital after suffering what her family believes was a heat stroke. A part of the USPS for over 20 years, Johnson was a supervisor but was working on deliveries the day she died.
She was found unconscious in the Fayetteville post office’s bathroom 15 minutes after entering. Speaking to local news station WRAL, her son, Deandre Johnson, said that, before passing, Johnson texted her sister and said ‘yeah, I’m in the back of the truck and I’m hot.’” On board the metal trucks with no A/C, the weather reportedly reached up to 95 degrees that day.
Even before the heat-related death of USPS worker and my constituent Eugene Gates last year, I've been pushing to strengthen federal heat standards for workers.
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) July 5, 2024
Thank you President Biden for this live-saving move to protect millions of Americans.https://t.co/9aWUTy8XAz
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently looking into Johnson’s death. Following her death, U.S.P.S. reportedly sent Johnson’s family a plaque and held a memorial service which they say was for the company to “save face.”
“My mother died on the clock,” said Deandre per USA Today. “She worked for a government job and she died on government property.”
In a statement, the U.S.P.S. emphasized that they’re looking out for workers as temperatures continue to rise.
“In connection with the HIPP, the Postal Service provides mandatory heat-related and other safety training and instruction to all employees and assures they have the resources needed to do their jobs safely,” said the company.
However, reports have been made that claim the package delivery company hasn’t been providing heat training to workers. Per a Politico report released in 2023, violations were found in a minimum of 10 states, such as Texas, New Jersey, Utah and Illinois, after speaking to 18 carriers, union officials and experts on the subject.
In Chicago, over 2,000 carriers reportedly had falsified records when it came to completing heat training. In some cases, employees had the date they received heat training listed on days they weren’t scheduled to work and, in Utah, only three employees received training before the April 1 deadline.
The report was conducted following the death of U.S.P.S. carrier Eugene Gates. In June 2023, Gates collapsed while working his route in Dallas.
With his cause of death listed as hyperthermia, otherwise known as a heat stroke, his body temperature reportedly reached 104.6 degrees as he delivered in 98-degree weather.
Following his death, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a rule to protect approximately 36 million workers when it comes to heat injuries.
“The risk that extreme heat poses to certain workers has long been recognized – even apart from the impacts of climate change,” said the Biden administration. “Recognizing these risks, the proposed rule includes requirements for identifying heat hazards, developing heat illness and emergency response plans, providing training to employees and supervisors, and implementing work practice standards — including rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatization for new employees.”
