MEC&F Expert Engineers : 05/04/17

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Bicyclist, Dr. Michael Migdal, Struck and Killed In Old Tappan, NJ

Bicyclist, Dr. Michael Migdal, Struck and Killed In Old Tappan, NJ

Saturday, April 22, 2017

RIVER VALE, N.J. - A bicyclist was hospitalized after being struck Saturday morning on Poplar Road in Old Tappan, Old Tappan Police Chief Thomas Shine confirmed.
Poplar Road remained closed through late morning following the crash, which occurred just before 9 a.m. near the wildlife reserve.
The Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service transported the victim.

Dr. Michael Wayne Migdal of River Vale, NJ died on Friday, April 28th at 12:56 AM at Hackensack University Medical Center. He was 59 years old and died from injuries sustained from a bicycling accident. Michael was born on December 24th, 1957 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Michael married his wife Roberta "Robbie" Riskin, daughter of Elaine (deceased) and Sidney Riskin, sister to Suzanne Riskin of Wayne, NJ, in August, 1997. Michael was a devoted husband and father and was very proud of their two beautiful daughters Elyse, 16 and Hailey, 12. Members of their family include their dogs Codie, Sugar and Max (deceased).

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THIS IS FROM THE OBITUARY ON THE WEB

Dr. Michael Wayne Migdal of River Vale, NJ died on Friday, April 28th at 12:56 AM at Hackensack University Medical Center. He was 59 years old and died from injuries sustained from a bicycling accident. Michael was born on December 24th, 1957 in Fort Lee, NJ. His parents Anita and Leonard purchased their first home in Glen Rock after opening Ridgewood Decorators and Michael, along with his sister Rachelle, enjoyed a loving family life. After graduating from Glen Rock High School he pursued a medical career, graduating from Lafayette College in 1980 and then from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1984. Michael was partnered with Dr. Andrew Spector for the last 27 years as part of an innovative practice team at Gentle Dentistry of Haworth, NJ.

Michael married his wife Roberta "Robbie" Riskin, daughter of Elaine (deceased) and Sidney Riskin, sister to Suzanne Riskin of Wayne, NJ, in August, 1997. Michael was a devoted husband and father and was very proud of their two beautiful daughters Elyse, 16 and Hailey, 12. Members of their family include their dogs Codie, Sugar and Max (deceased).

Michael was an avid cyclist and enjoyed being in nature. His gentle way, his intellectual curiosity and his residing happiness about life inspired those around him. He was passionate about his work and was embraced by his patients. He was a dear friend to many and shall be remembered with much love in the hearts of all who knew him.

Michael is survived by his wife Robbie, daughters Elyse and Hailey, his mother Anita Migdal and sister Rachelle Migdal. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Wednesday, May 3rd, 11:30 AM at Robert Schoem's Menorah Chapel (W-150 Route 4, Paramus, NJ 07652). - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=michael-migdal&pid=185252738&fhid=17135#sthash.ebBnxjrz.dpuf

Grant Aviation pilot Gabriele Cianetti died after he crashed his Cessna 208B plane south of Chignik, Alaska during a mail flight

THE FATAL CESSNA 2008B PLANE

Weather delays recovery of pilot's body from Southwest Alaska crash site

Author: Chris Klint
Updated: 8 hours ago
Published 13 hours ago

A Grant Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan crashed south of Chignik Lake on Monday, killing 54-year-old pilot Gabriele Cianetti. (From USCG via AST)

Poor weather at the site of a Grant Aviation plane crash in Southwest Alaska has prevented authorities from reaching the remote area and recovering the pilot's remains for another day.

Noreen Price, the National Transportation Safety Board's lead investigator into the Cessna 208B Caravan crash on Monday that killed 54-year-old Gabriele Cianetti, said Wednesday morning that plans to reach the location were still on a "weather hold" due to reduced visibility and obscured mountaintops.

The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that Cianetti was the sole occupant of the plane and was on a mail flight from Port Heiden to Perryville. An emergency locator transmitter signal from the Cessna was received at about 2 p.m. Monday.

Roughly four hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter crewman found Cianetti dead at the crash site, in mountainous terrain about 8 miles south of Chignik Lake at an altitude of about 3,000 feet.

The NTSB was gathering information Wednesday on the Caravan's radio traffic and any radar track of the aircraft during the fatal flight, Price said. The single-engine, nine-seat plane was carrying roughly 1,300 pounds of Priority Mail when it went down.

Price, along with Alaska State Troopers, the Coast Guard and members of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, were preparing for a Thursday attempt to reach the site, an effort complicated by several factors related to the crash location.

"The first is the distance from any fuel — there are no airports with fuel in the area," Price said. "It requires a helicopter to access it, and helicopters don't have much fuel capacity."

In addition, the crash site is covered in deep, wet snow and may be on a 50-degree incline — elements that led to the mountain rescue group's involvement.

"It takes some technical expertise, we believe, to access the site," Price said.

The NTSB ultimately hopes to remove the wreckage from the scene for a full inspection by investigators, Price said, as well as by representatives from Cessna and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.

================== Update: Pilot killed in Southwest Alaska plane crash

By KTVA CBS 11 News 6:33 PM May 1, 2017

Last updated at 11:36 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2

Troopers have identified the deceased as 54-year-old Gabriele Cianetti, of Anchorage. His next of kin has been notified.

Updated at 10:05 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2

The pilot and sole occupant in a Cessna 208B operated by Grant Aviation was found dead south of Chignik Monday evening, according to an updated Tuesday Alaska State Trooper dispatch.

The wreckage was discovered at a 3,000-foot elevation about “228 miles southwest of Kodiak,” Petty Officer John Paul Rios with the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The plane was headed from the small, Alaska Peninsula village of Port Heiden to Perryville when the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) went off south of Chignik around 2 p.m., according to Clint Johnson, Alaska region chief for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Troopers said that Grant Aviation confirmed they had an overdue aircraft.

The Coast Guard launched a C-130 Hercules airplane and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to search the area.

The wreckage was discovered at 5:49 p.m., on a steep mountain slope near Perryville.

Troopers said efforts to recover the body and wreckage are ongoing. In a Tuesday morning phone call, Johnson said because of the terrain, the recovery was going to be a challenge.

Status:	Preliminary
Date:	Monday 1 May 2017
Time:	ca 14:00
Type:	Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:	Grant Aviation
Registration:	N803TH
C/n / msn:	208B-0321
First flight:	1992
Engines:	1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
Crew:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Airplane damage:	Damaged beyond repair
Location:	Chignik, AK ( United States of America)
Phase:	En route (ENR)
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Port Heiden Airport, AK (PTH/PAPH), United States of America
Destination airport:	Perryville Airport, AK (KPV/PAPE), United States of America
Flightnumber:	GV341

Narrative:
The pilot of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was killed when his aircraft crashed near Chignik in Alaska.
The aircraft operated a service from Port Heiden to Chignik Bay with en route stops at Perryville, Chignik Lagoon and Chignik Lake. ================

Grant Aviation joins the friends and family of Gabriele Cianetti, pilot and sole occupant of the Grant Aviation Cessna Caravan that crashed enroute to Perryville yesterday afternoon. As the NTSB investigates the cause of the crash, we at Grant Aviation encourage our employees and customers to reach out to one another to share comforting words and memories of Gabe. Our Dillingham and King Salmon bases are closed today, May 2nd, as we remember Gabe and his service to the communities of Western Alaska.

Grant Aviation President Bruce McGlasson spoke to me today about the pilot they lost earlier this week in a crash near Chignik. He called Gabriele Cianetti a good guy, well-liked by other staff.

"He'd always wanted to be a pilot here in Alaska and so he was doing what he wanted to do."

Suffolk Construction worker seriously injured after he fell 40 feet down a shaft at the Met 3 Residential Tower site in Miami, FL

MAY 2, 2017

MIAMI, FLORIDA

Met 3 Residential Tower Miami construction worker falls down skyscraper elevator shaft

By David J. Neal

dneal@miamiherald.com

A man working on the Met Miami Project fell almost four stories down an elevator shaft Tuesday morning.

Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said the construction worker was in pain but talking, both to the co-workers who got to him first and to the paramedics who arrived later.

Paramedics took him down three floors of stairs, down the construction elevator, then to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.

How he fell from the 38th floor to the 34th or 35th floor in the building at 300 SE Third St. around 7 a.m. has yet to be ascertained.

Suffolk Construction, the general contractor at Met Miami, released a statement Tuesday afternoon:

“Our organization takes safety very seriously, and the well-being of our workers and the communities where we build is our top priority. The unfortunate incident that occurred early this morning involved one of our trade partners, and we are currently investigating the cause. In the meantime, our thoughts continue to be with the individual and his family.”

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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/downtown-miami/article148025669.html#storylink=cpy

A construction worker was rushed to the hospital after falling several floors at a site in Downtown Miami Tuesday morning. Eye witnesses say that he fell through a shaft.

Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said the worker fell three or four stories at the location off Southeast 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. He was found on the 34th floor and brought down several flights of stairs before being taken on an elevator to the ground.

Carroll said the worker was conscious when crews arrived, saying he possibly fell down a shaft at the site. No other workers were hurt.

The worker was listed in stable condition at Ryder Trauma Center with unknown injuries as officials are investigating the scene.

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Miami Construction Worker Falls Three Floors and Lives
The unidentified man is believed to have fallen from the 38th floor of a high-rise building that is under construction.

By Paul Scicchitano (Patch Staff) -

May 2, 2017 2:25 pm ET

MIAMI, FL — A construction worker plunged at least three floors on a Miami high-rise Tuesday and lived to tell about it. He was working on a construction site at 300 SE 3rd Street. The incident occurred after 7 a.m.

"We got reports of a construction worker that fell down an open shaft maybe three to four floors," Capt. Ignatius Carroll of Miami Fire Rescue told Patch. He said that it was not clear if the shaft was for an elevator or if it was used for construction purposes.

Carroll said that the man fell from possibly the 38th floor of the building down to the 34th floor.

Also: cop saves drowning boy, canal otter rescue, twins deliver babies on the same day and more.

"Coworkers rushed to his side and kept him calm and still until paramedics arrived," according to Carroll, who did not know what the worker landed on.

"He was talking, letting us know where he was in pain which was a good sign," Carroll added. "We stabilized him and called for additional firefighters to respond to help bring him down three flights of stairs to the construction elevator."

Carroll did not identify the victim, who was described as being in his early thirties. The worker was taken to Ryder Trauma Center of Jackson Memorial Hospital

THE DEADLY TOWERS: Cell-tower worker, Kris Edward Runyon, with D&K Nationwide Communications Inc., was killed after falling 150 feet from a a Crown Castle guyed cell tower east of Meridian, MS

Cell-tower worker, Kris Edward Runyon, dead. RIP.

Tower tech’s 150-foot fall in Mississippi is nation’s second 2017 fatality

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

May 2, 2017

Update: May 3, 2017 – Kris Edward Runyon, 39, has been identified as the tower technician who fell from a Crown Castle guyed tower near Meridian, Miss. yesterday evening and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kris Edward Runyon

A resident of Portsmouth, Ohio, Runyon had been working for D&K Nationwide Communications Inc. of Bristol, Conn. for the past year, but according to the company’s president, Derek Case, Runyon had over 16 years of industry experience.

Case, who was on his way to meet OSHA investigators at the site, informed Wireless Estimator that Runyon is survived by his mother and two sons and one daughter. Wireless Estimator will provide services details when they become available.

Case said that he has been informed by a coworker who was on the tower who did not see Runyon fall that Runyon was just finishing up taking project photographs. An additional crew member was on the ground.

As a subcontractor to turfing contractor MasTec, D&K was performing an AT&T LTE upgrade.

D&K Nationwide Communications Inc. is a small, fairly new organization in the electrical work companies industry located in Bristol, CT. It opened its doors in 2013 and now has an estimated $1.2 million in yearly revenue and 8 employees.

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May 2, 2017 – A tower technician died after falling approximately 150 feet from a cell tower east of Meridian, MS tonight, according to officials. He was with two tower crew members.

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said that at approximately 6:45 p.m. emergency crews were called to the cell site near Pigford Lake Road in the Meehan community of Lauderdale County in reference to a man who had fallen from the tower.

The man, whose name is not being released pending notification of his next of kin, is believed to be in his 30s or 40s and is believed to be a contractor from out of state, Cobler said.

The fatality was the second industry death within a week.

A coworker on the tower said he saw the man fall, Cobler said.

The 220-foot tall guyed tower is owned by Crown Castle International. Last week a tower tech was killed on another Crown Castle site in Dallas, Tex. when a crane collapsed.

Wireless Estimator will provide additional information as it becomes available.

OSHA is spearheading a planned nationwide stand-down next week to bring attention to fatal falls within the industry. Man who fell from cell tower identified

The man who fell to his death Tuesday while working on a cell tower near Meridian has been identified as Kris Edward Runyon, 39, of Ohio, according to Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler.

Cobler said Runyon was wearing his safety harness and equipment designed to prevent such a fall.

Cobler said the man's co-worker had turned away to work on something and when he turned back, he saw the victim falling. Runyon’s body was sent to Pearl for an autopsy, Cobler said.
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MERIDIAN, MS

A cell-tower worker was killed after falling approximately 150 feet from a cell tower east of Meridian Tuesday night, officials said.

According to Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler, around 6:45 p.m. Metro Ambulance crews were called to the cell site near Pigford Lake Road in the Meehan community of Lauderdale County in reference to a man who had fallen from the tower.

The man, whose name is not being released pending notification of his next of kin, is believed to be in his 30s or 40s and is believed to be a contractor from out of state, Cobler said.

There were two other employees with him when he fell, Cobler said.

All the harnesses and connectors appeared to be intact, officials said. The body will be sent to the state crime lab for autopsy.

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MERIDIAN, MS

A man working on a cell tower on Pigford Lake Road in Meridian fell to his death Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said the man, who was between 30 and 40 years old, was wearing his safety harness and equipment designed to prevent such a fall and that none of the equipment had been damaged. The incident happened around 6:45 p.m.

Cobler said the man’s coworker had turned away to work on something and when he turned back, he saw the victim falling. The man’s body was sent to Pearl for an autopsy, Cobler said, adding that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will likely conduct its own investigation into the safety equipment.

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MERIDIAN, Miss. —

A man working on a cell tower Tuesday fell 228 feet to his death, authorities said.

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Kris Edward Runyon, 39, was working on Pigford Lake Road in Meridian about 7 p.m. when he fell, Lauderdale County coroner Clayton Cobler said.

A coworker said he turned away to work on something and when he turned back, he saw Runyon falling, authorities said.

Runyon was wearing a safety harness and equipment designed to prevent a fall, Cobler said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

An autopsy has been ordered.

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Industry’s contractors readying for national safety stand-down

Next week’s national safety stand-down, May 8 through May 12, to prevent falls in construction, is an ideal time for contractors and other aligned businesses to take time out to discuss the very real problem in wireless construction of civil workers and tower techs injuring themselves.

And even though the industry has not had any fatalities of a wireless worker falling from an elevated structure in 2017, OSHA Directorate of Construction Dean McKenzie stressed today to Wireless Estimator that this is the time to emphasize the need for 100% fall protection so that complacency doesn’t cause the next death.

“Anyone who wants to prevent falls in the workplace can participate in the stand-down. In past years, participants included commercial construction companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, sub- and independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, the U.S. Military, other government participants, unions, employer’s trade associations, institutes, worker interest organizations, and safety equipment manufacturers,” McKenzie said.

The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) is also encouraging their member companies and all stakeholders in the wireless ecosystem to actively participate in the stand-down.

“The 2017 OSHA National Safety-Stand Down Week is coming at a critical time as the industry prepares for a spike in work due to an increase in both macro and micro deployment activities, the beginning of tower-related work associated with the Broadcast Repack transition and as the FirstNet Public Safety Broadband Network build-out commences. The stand-down provides every employer and employee with a unique opportunity to double-down on a culture of safety at their respective companies,” said NATE Executive Director Todd Schlekeway.

Black & Veatch Telecom Business ESH&S Manager Benjamin Afton said all of his firm’s regional telecommunications offices around the country will be taking part in in a variety of ways, including daily activities aimed at raising awareness of such things as heat illness prevention, jobsite safety plans for fall protection, rooftop safety, and emergency action plans.

“Additionally, safety topics will be presented both to our office staff as well as our field construction workers. Our top leadership will be out visiting regional offices and making stops to active jobsites to show our commitment to worker safety. Safety Week is a great time to push pause and really focus on what we are doing as a company to influence the safety culture of the telecom industry as a whole,” said Afton.

Additional information regarding the national stand-down can be found here.

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D&K Nationwide Communications Inc. of Bristol, Conn.

Owned and operated by an Honorably Discharged Disabled American Veteran, D&K is verified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) with a strong diverse management staff with decades of experience in construction management and telecommunications.

By training and developing the necessary personnel and paying strict attention to detail, cost, quality and safety practices , we are continuously striving to stay ahead of the curve and be recognized as industry experts . Throughout the years, D&K has developed installation, management methods and techniques that continually exceed and out-perform industry timelines and standards.

As technology has developed, our team has aggressively accepted the challenge of today’s demanding clientele. By building an in house management and development workforce and using a hands on approach, we have been able to increase our services to a continually expanding list of customers. Combining experience, technological education with a talented certified staff, we can provide our customers with the highest quality and safest standards while keeping with the highest levels of professionalism and cost effective solutions available.

Engaged in all facets and levels of management and field personnel we are capable of designing complicated DAS distribution systems in addition to planning and managing tower upgrades or builds, as well as managing the day-to-day operational needs, strategies and construction projects of any of today’s technology leaders.

Understanding the needs of our customers today and tomorrow, as well as having the skilled personnel to guide the way, is imperative in controlling costs, building trust, and establishing a valuable long term relationship with each and every client.

Quality personnel, management and installations begin with a smart design and educated management team to execute and monitor you project through all stages. Our in-house focus on these important characteristics allows our customers to depend on a superior staff and service, at a competitive rate.

1 worker electrocuted to death, two injured at the River Ranch apartment complex in Sherman, Texas after flag pole touches power line

By KXII-TV |

Posted: Wed 10:18 AM, May 03, 2017 |

Updated: Wed 7:43 PM, May 03, 2017

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) -- One person died, and two others have been transported to a Plano hospital after a flag pole fell onto a power line at a Sherman apartment complex.

It happened around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the River Ranch apartment complex on FM-1417 in Sherman.

Sherman Fire Chief Danny Jones said around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday ground crew members were lifting the flag pole in front of the apartment complex, when it fell over onto a power line.

One of those workers died at Wilson N Jones hospital. The other two were taken to a Plano hospital's burn unit. They are in critical condition.

"So I was actually in my car in the parking lot and I hear a zzzz sound and I look over to my right and I see a big splash, a big cloud of blue," KXII-TV Morning Producer Adrian Torres said.

Torres lives at River Ranch Apartments, and had just arrived home from work.
"And then I saw another big cloud of blue, and then I look over and I can see some guys knee on the floor, so then that's when i got up and went over there and some other lady went running over there and we saw they were just laying on the floor," Torres said.

He wanted to help but saw one of the workers lying motionless, his leg still touching the pole.

"I stood back because we saw the pole was touching the cable still and it was still touching one of the guys feet, still looked like it so we stood back," Torres said.

Officials say the three were trying to lift the pole from the ground when the wind caught it and it hit this power line.

"First off, our hearts and prayers go out to the people injured but there were three people injured on an electrocution with a customer with our primary voltage," ONCOR Area Manager Todd Thompson said.

No names of the victims have been released pending notification of their families, Jones said.

There's no danger to the public from "flaring" at Chevron's Richmond refinery; it was due to an equipment malfunction

Updated:May 03 2017 08:20PM PDT

Chevron's refinery in Richmond confirms that there is flaring going on as of 4:20 p.m. In a statement, the company said there is no need to shelter in place.

Chevron says flares are, "a highly-regulated safety device monitored by the air district, used in refineries to relieve pressure."

This is said to be an isolated incident and the refinery continues to operate, according to the company.

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Wednesday, May 03, 2017 05:17PM

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) --

Chevron is saying that there's no danger to the public, from "flaring" at its Richmond refinery, and it was all due to an equipment malfunction.

It was classified as a "level one incident" which means some hazardous materials were released, with the possibility of impact off the site of the plant.

No shelter in place warning was issued.