I-4 Ultimate Worker Killed after Rebar Cage Collapses in Orlando
An employee with Shelby Erectors was working on the I-4 Ultimate project, near to a cap cage on Thursday, March 8th, when something happened to cause the cage to collapse on top of the man. Cap cages are structures made entirely out of rebar that are used as frames onto which wood is attached, creating a mould where concrete is then poured. The one that collapsed this past Thursday was located on an on-ramp leading to the westbound lanes of South Street, close to the Amway Center.
After the collapse of the cage, 9-1-1 was called. Paramedics and police with the Orlando Police Department rushed to the scene and badly injured man, a 56-year-old ironworker, was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition, and despite the efforts of the medical staff on duty at the time he was declared dead shortly after arriving.
The parent company in charge of the entire I-4 Ultimate project, SGL, issued a statement regarding the death of its contracted employee. In their statement, they admitted to not knowing the cause of the incident. Witness to the collapse of the rebar stated that it was extremely windy on the day of the collapse, but it is too early to tell if this is being treated as the primary cause of the fatal accident A full investigation is being launched by SGL, the Orlando Police Department, OSHA and other authorities on construction safety, and the results of this investigation will be made known to the public and, most importantly, to the friends and family of the deceased ironworker.
While the initial investigation is conducted, the entire 21-mile I-4 Ultimate project will be placed on hold. Even though the incident happened in downtown Orlando, SGL appears to be focused on ensuring that all of the locations for their workers are inspected and approved as being safe places for their employees. It is likely that the presence of OSHA will help ensure that SGL does not overlook any detail and complies with any directives issued by the other investigating parties.
It is not known when work will resume on the construction project.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.