A tragic accident happened in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania last week. A construction worker was severely injured when a concrete barrier, estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds, fell on top of him.
The man was employed by HRI Inc., who was contracted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to make improvements on Route 412. The project involves widening Route 412 to five lanes from only two between Daly Avenue and Interstate 78. The accident occurred near Auburn Street.
Although the extent of the man’s injuries is not fully known, emergency broadcasts indicated that the trauma the man experienced led to cardiac arrest. Bethlehem firefighters assisted emergency responders in transporting the victim to an ambulance. Emergency responders performed CPR on the man while he was being taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital for treatment.
A spokesperson for HRI said the company is conducting an investigation “to piece together the exact details of what happened.” Although the Allentown OSHA office had yet to be notified about the incident a spokesperson said, “If it’s serious enough for (police) to call us, we’ll be out there to investigate.”
Accidents like this highlight the workplace hazards and risks faced by construction workers each day. For those that are injured, help is available. Since many construction workers are independent contractors, in addition to workers’ compensation benefits injured workers may be able to pursue personal injury damages. An experienced construction accident attorney can provide further advice and guidance about potential claims.
Source: lehighvalleylive.com, “Man injured after concrete median barrier falls on him in Bethlehem,” Sarah M. Wojcik, September 4, 2012
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