State investigating construction worker's death at Perrigo
By John Agar | jagar@mlive.com
on August 29, 2016 at 3:19 PM, updated August 29, 2016 at 4:41 PM
An Ada man died after he fell 22 feet down an elevator shaft while working at the Perrigo Co. facility in Holland Township.
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, MI – The state is investigating the workplace death of Gerrit "Gary" Blok, 50, of Ada, who fell 22 feet at Perrigo Co.'s facility on Reflections Drive.
He was working for Dan Vos Construction Company when he fell down an elevator shaft on Thursday, Aug. 25, while trying to retrieve an extension ladder.
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or MIOSHA, was notified of the death and has begun an investigation.
MIOSHA does not provide details on open investigations. It could take weeks or months to complete the investigation, a spokeswoman said Monday, Aug. 29.
Blok, who worked for Dan Vos Construction about 27 years, was secured by a harness while working at the Holland Township facility but had removed it after finishing his work. He then tried to retrieve the ladder from the shaft and fell, Ottawa County sheriff's deputies said.
The company, with headquarters in Ada, shared a photo of his co-workers on its website, and wrote: "Thank You for Your Prayers and Support."
He and his wife, Pam, have two children, Jason and Abbie. He has been described as a devoted family man. The funeral service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Ada Christian Reformed Church.
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Dan Vos Construction Company is a full service construction firm, serving Michigan and the Midwest by delivering effective building solutions to clients through design build, general contracting and construction management methods. Headquartered in Ada, Michigan, we provide complete architectural engineering services as well as service teams which deliver specialized facility maintenance, steel and home modification services.
We utilize cutting-edge design and communication technology to deliver creative, sustainable and cost effective solutions from office to field. We view ourselves as a single-source solution provider serving a wide-ranging spectrum of clients such as pharmaceutical manufacturers and food processors, healthcare facilities, commercial and retail, office buildings, K-12 and higher education facilities, non-profits; and community places of worship.
Our staff of 85 experienced professionals ensures that every customer, new and returning, realizes their vision along with quality that lasts a lifetime. Ranging from large manufacturers to small business owners, doctors to educators and community non-profits, our goal is to meet the unique needs of our clients and surpass their expectations with innovation and integrity from start to completion.