COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — A construction worker suffered serious injuries Monday morning after an accident on the property of a new home construction in Coventry.
Emergency responders arrived at 6 Victory Falls Road just before 11:00 a.m. to find a male worker with his legs pinned beneath a cement slab. Crews on scene say the ground near the foundation of the home gave way and an excavator and worker fell into the home's foundation as a result.
After about an hour, emergency response crews were able to free the injured worker. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by helicopter for immediate treatment. His injuries are considered non-life threatening.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on hand for several hours Monday to conduct an on scene investigation. At this point OSHA is not releasing any information about their investigation or any details about possible infractions.
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COVENTRY, R.I. — Rescuers flew a construction worker to Rhode Island Hospital after the man became partially pinned under the collapsed wall of a cement foundation.
The worker, whom the police did not identify, was working on a house at 6 Victory Falls Rd. at about 10:30 a.m. when the accident occurred, the police said. When rescue officials arrived, they could not immediately rescue the victim because an excavator was hanging “precariously” on a slope, the release from the Coventry Police Department stated.
An excavator from a nearby rotary project at Routes 102 and 117 headed to the scene and steadied the hanging excavator. Then, rescue personnel were able to get to the victim, remove the concrete slab and stabilize the injuries to his lower legs, according to the release.
A Lifestar helicopter from Meriden, Connecticut flew the injured man from the construction site. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, the release said.
Members of the Western Coventry Fire Department, North Kingstown Special Hazards Engine 1 and 5, Hopkins Hill Fire, Anthony Fire and Coventry Department of Public Works all responded.
The police thanked D’Ambra Construction, which is working on the rotary project, for its assistance in the rescue.
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COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) – Police say a construction worker was flown to Rhode Island Hospital after his legs became trapped under thousands of pounds of concrete.
The accident happened on Victory Falls Road shortly after 10 a.m. Monday.
According to Coventry police, the worker’s legs became trapped after the foundation gave way at the construction site where a house is being built. The property owner, who was driving an excavator on the foundation, said crews were doing drainage work.
Firefighters who arrived on scene realized the excavator was dangling into the hole created by the collapse, and they couldn’t go in and rescue the worker until they secured the machinery.
An excavator from D’Ambra construction, which was doing unrelated work nearby, arrived on scene to help move the excavator before it fell on top of the man. D’Ambra is not involved in the project where the accident happened.
North Kingstown Special Hazards crews were able to remove the concrete from the victim, who was then transported to the hospital via a Life-Star helicopter with minor injuries.
The site is owned by SKJR properties, which is building the house and has built several others in the new development. According to owner Steve Kent, the victim works for a different sub-contracted construction company.
Federal investigations from OSHA responded to the scene and are investigating the incident. A spokesperson said the review could take up to 180 days.