Key West’s heat sent a worker to the hospital, and as a result, his employer now faces $21,000 in fines

A Georgia company faces $21,000 in fines after the federal government said it failed to protect its employees from the heat while they worked at a Key West job site.

Evoqua Water Technologies, based in Thomasville, Georgia, also failed to report the hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

A worker suffered heat exhaustion and ended up in the hospital after working in direct sunlight while wearing the required protective clothing during welding and fabrication work in Key West, OSHA said.

The water services company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or fight the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A message sent to Evoqua Water Technologies seeking comments was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Gwen Filosa; gfilosa@flkeysnews.com