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by: BJ Lutz, Angelica Sanchez, Jenna Barnes
Technical engineer died Thursday in nine-story fall at future site of UChicago Medical Center cancer center; Ironworker critically injured
by: BJ Lutz, Angelica Sanchez, Jenna Barnes
CHICAGO — Agents with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration on Friday morning were at the construction site where two workers fell from scaffolding while constructing the University of Chicago’s future cancer care and research pavilion.
One of the men, 27-year-old David O’Donnell, was pronounced dead shortly after falling nine stories around midday Thursday. The other man who was critically injured was not publicly identified as of Friday afternoon.
OSHA has launched investigations into four firms: Turner Construction, Hi-Tech Stake Out, New Horizon Steel and Adjustable Concrete Construction.
Turner Construction is the general contractor for the project. Hi-Tech Stake Out was O’Donnell’s employer and is owned by his father.
New Horizon Steel is the employer of the critically injured worker. Adjustable Concrete Construction erected the scaffold. New Horizon Steel has no previous history with OSHA.
“At New Horizon Steel, the safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority,” the company said in a statement. “We are devastated by the incident that took place and the tragic loss of life of an employee on the project, who was not employed by New Horizon Steel but by another contractor. We are thankful that the New Horizon Steel employee who was also injured is reportedly stable and expected to make a full recovery, and we are currently investigating the cause of the incident to ensure something like this never happens again. We are also fully supporting all authorities in their investigations.”
Turner Construction has no OSHA history in Illinois within the last five years.
A statement released from the firm late Thursday said, in part:
“This is an extremely sad day. Our hearts are broken, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to their family members, friends, and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.
The safety and wellbeing of everyone on our sites is so important to us. We work extremely hard to prevent days like this and we have halted all construction activity. Grief counseling services will be available to all workers on site to support them in the difficult days and weeks ahead.”
OSHA has six months to complete its inspection, issue citations and propose penalties if violations of workplace safety and/or health regulations are found during their investigation.
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