OSHA investigates after an Alpha Steel Erectors employee died when he fell 35 to 50 feet from a roof while working on the New England Sports Center expansion in Marlborough, Mass.

Marlborough: OSHA probes death of construction worker



Updated May 8, 2017 at 7:22 PM



By Jeff Malachowski
Daily News Staff


MARLBOROUGH, MA – Federal safety investigators are looking into the death of a 30-year-old Arizona construction worker who fell 35 to 50 feet from a roof while working on the New England Sports Center expansion.

Police received a 911 call just before noon that a construction worker fell off the roof of the Donald Lynch Boulevard ice arena. The man, whom authorities did not identify Monday, was taken by ambulance to Marlborough Hospital where he died about an hour later, said Police Detective Jared Snapp.


Authorities are investigating what caused the man, an employee of Colorado Springs-based Alpha Steel Erectors, to fall, but say no foul play is suspected, said Elizabeth Vlock, spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.


The owner of Alpha Steel Erectors is listed as Chris Blakeley.  His facebook page lists the following about him:

• Owner at Alpha Steel Erectors
• Former Mercenary Soldier at U.S. Army
• Studied at Pikes Peak Community College
• Went to Clearwater High School
• Lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Single
• From Clearwater, Florida

There is also at least one ripoff report about Chris Blakeley and numerous complaints.

The Andover office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is inspecting the construction site for any violations, said agency spokesman James Lally.

Lally declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation because it is ongoing. He said the purpose is to determine if there were any violations of workplace safety standards defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970.

Under federal law, OSHA has six months to complete its investigation. Lally anticipates more information will be available when the inspection is complete.

Officials from Alpha Steel Erectors and Wes Tuttle, general manager of the New England Sports Center, could not be reached for comment Monday.

The New England Sports Center is undergoing an 88,830-square-foot expansion, which will include two new ice rinks, 110 more parking spaces and potentially a second restaurant.

Built in 1994 with four ice rinks, the New England Sports Center has undergone a handful of expansions in recent years. In 2005 the facility added a fifth rink and expanded again in 2010 to add a sixth to meet the growing demand for ice time.

The expansion is slated to be completed this summer.

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MARLBORO, Mass.- 

A 30-year-old construction worker from Arizona was killed when he fell 35 to 50 feet while working at the New England Sports Center on Sunday.

Police said they were alerted to the fall just before noon and the man was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial - Marlboro Hospital, where he died about an hour later.


The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded, along with the medical examiner’s office and police detectives.

Marlboro Police Lt. Robert Jusseaume said the man was working for a steel company that is constructing new ice rinks at the facility on Donald Lynch Boulevard. It is believed he fell from a beam, police said.

MARLBOROUGH – The 88,830-square-foot expansion of the New England Sports Center remains on track to be completed early this spring.

The project: The City Council this summer signed off on a special permit allowing New England Sports Management, which operates the center, to expand. The expansion will include two new ice rinks, 110 more parking spaces and potentially a second restaurant, said Wes Tuttle, general manager of the New England Sports Center.

Timeline: Construction crews recently installed footings, plumbing and the foundation for the new rinks. Tuttle expects work on the last foundation wall will be completed in the next few days and crews will then begin work paving the parking lot. “We’re very, very happy with the progress,” said Tuttle. “It’s exciting. We’re anxious to get it done.” Crews cleared numerous trees over the summer where the rinks and parking lot will be located. Tuttle hopes the new rinks will open in February or March. 

Growth: The expansion will provide additional opportunities, such as allowing more teams to play at the complex, attracting bigger national and global hockey tournaments and the addition of a curling club. Tuttle and Sudbury Firefighter Mike Matros are also organizing the Hero Cup hockey tournament, which will bring teams of firefighters from across the world to the center to compete.

Economic benefit: Susanne Morreale-Leeber, president and CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, characterized the center as a key resource to helping city businesses flourish. Morreale-Leeber expects the ongoing expansion will increase business to city hotels, restaurants and shops. “The New England Sports Center has been really key all these years in helping our community stay stable,” she said. “With the expansion, they’re going to be able to attract large competitions and that means more business for our business people. It’s good for the business community.”

The facility: Built in 1994 with four ice rinks, the New England Sports Center has undergone a handful of expansions in recent years. In 2005 the facility added a fifth rink and expanded again in 2010 to add a sixth to meet the growing demand for ice time. The complex also features a pro shop, arcade and restaurant. The center has hosted numerous national and regional events during its history.

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Chris Blakeley under fire

D C Steel Builders, unsafe, un-trained, and broke

This is the company listed in Chris Blakeley's facebook pages.  Apparently, after the company went belly up, he set up another company named Alpha Steel Erectors.  Something is smelling very bad here.

Christopher E Blakeley, DC Steel Builders Inca former mortgage banker decided to get into the steel erection business, so he went to work for a company in Florida, (united steel erectors) where he learned all the wrong things, he has no formal training only the hands on monkey see monkey do approch, just recently on 10-16-2010 he was contracted to erect a 20,000 square foot building located on:

The campus of the university of Wyoming, where he hired a highly experienced iron worker, for help, however his greed and need for money outweighed the advise and safety concerns and direction of the Supervisor he hired to help , because he did not have the experience and or equipment to proceed with the steel erection and totally ignored standard erection procedures he suffered a total collapse of the structure he was contracted to build, in my opinion, DC Steel Builders should be run out of the steel erection business until such time as Mr.christopher Blakeley , gains some formal education in the business.!!!! And some formal safety training.

Not only was DC Steel Builders responsible in whole for this accident, but could have caused the deaths of several of his employees , and it was all because of his poor financial situation and his greed!!!!!! , In addition to this he has turn his back on the basics of trust of a employer and employee relationship , and has not even paid his employees, so to anyone planning on or has received a quote from DC Steel builders.

The above facts should be weighed carefully before doing any business with Christopher Blakeley.

He is a snake oil sales man in my opinion and will say anything, so you are forewarned!!! And he should not be trusted , in my option, I will say this in his favor, he is a great salesman , but that’s it, and I believe he would be far better selling used cars , because I firmly believe this is where he’s talent lies
And leaving steel erection to the trained and safe contractors.!!!!