OSHA cites Montgomery Co. firm for heat-related death

OSHA has cited a Montgomery County company in the heat-related death of an employee, but an owner says his company did nothing wrong and will fight the citation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said on Tuesday it had cited LH Musser & Sons Inc. in Clarksburg. The agency said the single citation was for a violation of its general duty clause. OSHA says it inspected the company after an employee who was performing paving operations in June in Washington became ill from heat stress and died at a hospital.

Larry Musser, one of the company's owners, said on Tuesday that the dead employee was a friend of his and denied any wrongdoing.

Musser said OSHA is "dead wrong," adding that he and his sons are a "hardworking bunch" struggling to survive.