WAUSAU, WIS. (WSAW) A worker died at the construction site of a new hotel in Wausau last Thursday and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death.
According to Captain Dale Wisnewski of the Marathon County Sheriff's Department, 45-year-old Shane Cash of Wisconsin Rapids fell from a ladder while drilling holes in the ceiling of the new Hilton Garden Inn on N. Mountain Road in Wausau.
Wisnewski says Cash died at the scene.
OSHA spokesman Scott Allen confirmed an investigation is taking place.
Allen says investigators will question witnesses and property owner Ghidorzi Companies to make sure OSHA standards were being followed.
Margaret Ghidorzi, a spokesperson for the company released a statement on the worker's death.
"On Thursday afternoon, a fatality occurred on the construction site of the Hilton Garden Inn. A subcontractor was discovered by a co-worker after passing away during the workday. Since this tragedy, we have and continue to work proactively with authorities to determine the root cause of the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and co-workers as we all mourn his loss."
Construction for the 5,900 square foot building began in July 2016. By law, OSHA has 6 months to complete the investigation.
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RIB MOUNTAIN, WI - An incident at a Rib Mountain construction site is under investigation after a worker died Thursday.
Marathon County Sheriff's Capt. Dale Wisnewski identified the worker as Shane Cash, 45, of Wisconsin Rapids. Cash died at about 4 p.m. Thursday while doing work at the Hilton Garden Inn construction site in Rib Mountain, said Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Scott Allen.
Cash was working as a subcontractor for Ghidorzi Construction, said company spokeswoman Margaret Ghidorzi. Ghidorzi said Cash's body was discovered by a co-worker. She did not identify the man as Cash in her statement.
Preliminary findings indicate Cash fell off a ladder, Allen said. Cash was drilling holes in the ceiling before he died, Wisnewski said. Allen said OSHA investigators are interviewing any witnesses, reviewing the company's safety record and evaluating whether the company was following safety regulations.
"Since this tragedy, we have and continue to work proactively with authorities to determine the root cause of the accident," Ghidorzi said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and co-workers as we all mourn his loss."
Allen said falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries and death.
The future Hilton Garden Inn is off of North Mountain Road. The new hotel is taking the place of the old Howard Johnson Inn & Conference Center and Emma Krumbee's restaurant.
