Emergency crews were called to the scene of a partial building collapse at 45 Stuart Street this morning. Boston Fire Department reports that two victims were treated at the scene of an accident at a high rise construction site. One of the victims had minor injuries while the other was taken to Tufts Medical Center with serious head injuries, according to the Boston Globe.
The accident occurred when the twelfth floor of a partially constructed building collapsed down to the fifth floor when 120 workers were on the site. “A dead load on the 12th floor collapsed, pancaked down to the fifth floor,” Deputy Fire Chief Robert Calobrisi told CBS Boston. The cause of the collapse was not immediately known, but construction workers are not permitted to resume work until the structural integrity of the building is evaluated by an engineer.
Upon completion, the high rise will stand at 33 stories, a modern mixture of glass and steel towering over the city’s beloved theatre district. CBT Architects touts their newest project as a 400-unit residential building loaded with luxury amenities. “We are fully cooperating with the Fire Department investigation and are in contact with representatives of OSHA,” Senior Vice President of Development Michael Roberts stated, according to CBS Boston.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans remarked to WHDH that the injuries were not life-threatening and that he was grateful this was not a more serious incident, especially with so many workers in the structure at the time.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that that there were 775 fatal construction accidents in 2012. While some of these incidents were unavoidable, OSHA believes that more than half of construction-related deaths are preventable, only worsening the anguish felt by those injured and their loved ones. If you or a loved one have been injured on the job, please contact our Massachusetts workers’ compensation law firm. Our dedicated attorneys have decades of experience successful handling construction accident cases, and understand the pain and confusion faced by those who have been injured on the job. One of our senior associates will walk you through the process step by step, allowing you to focus on your family and health. We will combine the proven skill and experience of our best attorneys to insure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Sources:
CBS Boston. “2 Hurt In Floor Collapse At Building Under Construction On Stuart Street.” March 20, 2014 CBT Architects. “AVA Theatre District.”
Dussault, Joseph. Boston.com. “Construction accident injures two in Boston Theater District” March 20, 2014.
Hausle, Dan. WHDH. “Construction decking collapses in Theater District.” March 20, 2014 OSHA. “Commonly Used Statistics.”