OLATHE, Kan. —
The
Olathe Police Department has released the identity of the man killed in a
workplace incident at Garmin's headquarters on Monday.
Jubal D.
Hubbard, 28 of Holden, Mo., was killed when a high pressure valve
ruptured at a construction site at Garmin's warehouse.
Garmin director of corporate communications Ted Gartner confirmed
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating
the incident.
“Unfortunately, an employee of one of the
construction contractors was killed during this incident, which was
immediately brought under control,” Gartner said.
“Local
authorities and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
are investigating the incident, and it is inappropriate for Garmin to
comment on any specifics at this time. Our sincere condolences go out to
the victim’s family, friends, and coworkers.”
===============
28-year-old worker killed at Garmin work site was ‘family guy that loved to fish’
By Toriano Porter
November 28, 2017
The
man who died Monday after a pipe ruptured on the construction site of
the new Garmin expansion was described by a long-time friend as an avid
outdoorsman and a doting father to an 8-year-old son.
Jubal D.
Hubbard, 28, of Holden, was working on a high-pressure valve when it
ruptured about 2:20 p.m. near a loading dock area of a warehouse at 1515
S. Mahaffie Circle.
Thadius
Paul Plemons, 24, of Cement, Okla., said he’d known Hubbard since
Plemons was a 6-year-old growing up near a farm in Holden.
“He loved to fish and was a big, big family guy,” Plemons said Tuesday.
The pair, Plemons said, were keen on hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.
“If were doing something outside we were happy,” Plemons said.
Plemons said Hubbard was a former Army National Guardsman and a loving and protective father to 8-year-old son, Daniel.
“Daniel idolized his dad and vice verse,” Plemons said.
Plemons
said he last saw Hubbard during a trip to Holden this past weekend. The
two talked about family and shot guns on a private range.
Funeral
arrangements for Hubbard are pending, but Plemons and family will make
an unwanted return trip to Holden on Wednesday to meet with Hubbard’s
parents.
“He wasn’t just a friend, he was a brother,” Plemons
said. “His mom and dad and my mom and dad are best friends. We’ve been
best friends since Day 1.”
The site where Hubbard died has been
under construction since last year when Garmin announced its plans to
build a new warehouse and distribution center on 29 acres near 151st
Street and Mahaffie Circle.
=======================
November 27, 2017
OLATHE, Kan. --
A worker has died Monday afternoon after an explosion at the new Garmin headquarters under construction in Olathe, officials say.
Olathe Fire Department spokesman Mike Hall told Fox 4 a subcontractor was working on a high-pressure valve in a warehouse near a loading dock when the valve ruptured around 2:30 p.m. Monday.
The worker was killed instantly. No one else was injured. Officials have not yet released any identifying information about the victim.
"We've transitioned into a death investigation where we will continue to investigate exactly what occurred here to the best of our ability," Olathe Police Sgt. Logan Bonney said.
The new headquarters is currently under construction at 1550 S. Mahaffie Circle in Olathe.
The company overseeing the construction of the new headquarters issued the following statement:
"McCownGordon Construction would like to express our firm’s deepest sympathy to the victim’s family, friends and co-workers. We understand that local authorities, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are currently investigating the incident. It is inappropriate for us to comment at this time."
Due to significant success, Garmin is expanding its corporate
headquarters. McCownGordon and Gould Evans are collaborating to complete
the multi-phased, $200 million project including a parking garage,
warehouse and manufacturing facility, office space and associated site
work and landscaping.
The new parking facility—an extension of the existing garage—was
constructed while the current garage remained active. The warehouse and
manufacturing expansion includes more than 720,000 square feet of new
space to house Garmin’s growing business. The new space will feature a
creative setting for R&D, engineering and industrial design teams.
With a focus on employee wellbeing, the expanded campus will also
feature a fitness center, recreation fields, running trails and an
outdoor event space. Phase II of the expansion includes new office
environments for Garmin’s expanding workforce. =====================
Worker dead after pipe ruptures on Garmin construction site
By Kaitlyn Schwers And John Sleezer
November 27, 2017
A contractor working on the construction site of the new Garmin expansion in Olathe died Monday after a pipe ruptured, the fire department said.
Olathe Fire Capt. Mike Hall said the person who died was working on a high-pressure valve when it ruptured. Hall said the accident happened near a loading dock area of a warehouse.
The fire department said the accident was reported at 2:18 p.m. Monday at 1515 S. Mahaffie Circle.
No other injuries were reported.
The fire department spokesman said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Olathe police were investigating the accident.
The site where the death happened Monday has been under construction since last year when Garmin announced its plans to build a new warehouse and distribution center on 29 acres near 151st Street and Mahaffie Circle.
McCownGordon is the general contractor, and Gould Evans is the designer and architect. The company said the $200 million expansion would create 150 new jobs.
