 |
| Jacksonville police said
two construction workers were loading supplies into a third-story window
from a wooden crate hoisted by this lift Thursday afternoon when the
crate fell, pulling the workers down with it. It’s not clear if they
were wearing harnesses. (Garrett Pelican/Florida Times-Union) |
Marc and Nicole Padgett, Summit’s owners
One worker died and another was critically injured Thursday after a three-story fall at a construction site near Myrtle Avenue and West 16th Street, authorities said.
The accident occurred about 11:50 a.m. at the Mary Eaves apartment complex under construction in the 1200 block of West 16th Street.
The project is constructed by The Vestcor Companies, Inc. along with their partners, Summit Contracting Group, the general contractor on the 16th Street construction project.
The men were working out of a wooden crate perched atop a hydraulic lift, loading doors into a third-story window, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The pair fell when the crate they were using as a platform tipped over and came crashing to the ground, said Sgt. David Smith. It’s unclear if the workers were strapped into harnesses.
“It came loose from the lift and fell to the ground, taking them with it,” Smith said.
Paramedics pronounced one worker dead at the scene, Smith said. Another was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The names of the victims were not immediately released because families have not yet been notified. Smith described them as being in their 40s and 30s.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. Bud Underwood, assistant area director for OSHA, said two compliance officers were onsite for hours documenting what took place.
“They’re doing interviews and gathering folks up, trying to figure out what the hell went wrong,” Underwood said.
The fall comes the same week as OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The initiative is marked by voluntary events for employers to educate and have dialogue with employees about workplace hazards, prevention methods and safety policies.
Workplace falls are a leading cause of death for construction employees, making up 350 of the 937 construction fatalities nationwide in 2015, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Florida has the second-highest fatality rate in the country for workplace accidents.
“This young man didn’t deserve what happened today,” Underwood said. “We need to do better.”
The Northeast Florida Safety Council, a nonprofit that offers occupational safety classes free of charge, had an open demonstration of fall protection devices and practices Thursday morning. Organizers said the turnout was underwhelming.
Roughly a dozen people took part. No one from Summit Contracting Group, the general contractor on the 16th Street construction project, was in attendance, according to the safety council.
“You’d think people would be lined up to attend, especially because it’s free,” said Bruce Press, the nonprofit’s member services representative.
Based on news coverage of the incident he had seen, Press expressed outrage at the death that he called “absolutely preventable.”
“There’s nothing about what they did that was remotely acceptable or correct,” he said. “If they had just used the right equipment, the right safety practices, this would not have happened.”
Marc and Nicole Padgett, Summit’s owners, offered condolences to the men’s loved ones when reached by phone but said none of the firm’s employees were involved. They said the men were hired by a subcontractor but did not say which one.
“Our hearts go out to the families,” Nicole Padgett said.
Mary Eaves Apartments in Jacksonville, FL is a senior living community that will consist of 80 units in 1 building and will be 81,867 square feet.
The partners include Summit Contracting Group, Inc., Vestcor, PQH Group Design Inc., and several Subcontractors.
Summit Contracting Group, the contractor overseeing site of deadly Jacksonville accident has been hit with OSHA violations before
by: Lorena Inclan, Action News Jax Updated: May 12, 2017 - 10:31 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A man believed to be in his 40s is dead after a workplace accident at a construction site in Durkeeville on West 16th Street.
A 30-year-old man was also injured after falling on his back at the same site Thursday.
Charlie McCloud, who lives next door to the construction zone, said he was sitting on his porch when it happened.
“It was all quiet, next thing you know you hear -- I won't say a loud boom -- more like a popping sound,” McCloud said.
This police report shows one worker died at the scene and the other was transported to UF Health.
“I knew it was coming from this direction. Then I went to the store like an hour later, they had it all roped off and stuff,” McCloud said.
Sky Action News Jax captured exclusive aerial video of JSO at the construction site which is the future Mary Eaves Apartments location.
The employees involved in the accident were working for M & R Construction, who is a subcontractor to Building Materials and Construction Services.
According to the police report, the company overseeing the project, Summit Contracting Group, has been cited by OSHA in the past.
It’s most recent citation is from February of last year which found employees were exposed to fall hazards.
OSHA is now investigating Thursday afternoon’s incident.
Action News Jax tried calling M & R Construction but no one answered. A short time later, someone called reporter Lorena Inclan back and as soon as she introduced herself, the caller hung up.
Summit Contracting Group’s Chief Administrative Officer, Nicole Padgett, sent Action News Jax the following statement:
“Summit Contracting Group, Inc. sends its deepest condolences to the family that lost a loved one in the tragic accident yesterday, and our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery to the worker who was injured. The two workers were employed by M&R Construction, LLC, who is a subcontractor to Building Materials and Construction Services.
"OSHA is currently investigating the accident and Summit is providing OSHA with all requested information necessary for OSHA to complete its investigation. Summit has no further comment on this active OSHA investigation other than to reiterate our commitment to job site safety, including our commitment to fully cooperate with the OSHA investigation.”