AUGUST 29, 2015
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Contractor McCarthy Building Companies announced that work resumed Monday in areas of the second Presbyterian Rust Medical Center tower not affected by the scaffolding collapse last week.
One person died and seven others were injured when a six-story scaffolding collapsed in an interior courtyard of the under-construction tower on Aug. 18. The identities of the victims haven’t been released, and an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
According to an emailed statement, in cooperation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s New Mexico office and local authorities, the work was to begin again as McCarthy subcontractors got safety orientations. They were to work outside the perimeter of the collapse site.
McCarthy project supervisors, occupational safety specialists and subcontractor managers will provide information about restricted areas, new entrance and emergency exit routes and an analysis of potential hazards for the workers in each trade and how to eliminate those hazards, according to the release.
That “soft start” is expected to happen over several days.
“This will allow us time to carefully and clearly re-establish extensive safety measures, protect areas that remain under investigation and most importantly, ensure each person coming onto the site is entering the safest work environment possible,” the statement said. “It’s impossible to be returning to the site without thinking of those who were affected by the tragic event last week. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with each worker who was involved, their families and friends.”
With the community and people in the contracting field expressing a desire to help the workers injured and their families, McCarthy is working with Associated General Contractors of New Mexico to set up a fund for donations. According to the statement, McCarthy will share details with the public when they’re available.
“We also want to thank Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and its employees for their responsiveness, support and collaboration,” the statement said. “We remain deeply concerned by the tragic event last week and continue to provide our complete support to OSHA and local authorities in their ongoing investigation.”