The fatal workplace accident that killed a construction worker at the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project in Cincinnati remains under investigation by federal workplace safety regulators.
The worker died in an incident involving a manlift, equipment used to hoist workers to elevated work areas, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation, which identified the deceased worker as a Walsh-Kokosing crew member.
Walsh Construction and Kokosing Construction, two family-owned construction companies, teamed up to form the Walsh Kokosing Design-Build Team, which is the joint venture responsible for the $3.6 billion project's design and construction.
ODOT confirmed a manlift was involved in the fatal accident
Walsh-Kokosing did not respond to Enquirer phone calls and emails seeking comment.
The worker, who
has not been identified, died Oct. 17 at the massive bridge and highway reconstruction project. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is leading the investigation, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Fatal incidents involving aerial lifts and similar equipment are a recognized hazard in the construction industry.
Nationwide, 87 workers died in incidents involving aerial lifts or scissor lifts between 2011 and 2014, including 48 who died after falling from one level to another, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Federal workplace safety regulators are investigating the Oct. 17 death
The figures average about 22 deaths a year, although they cover multiple types of equipment and are not specific to construction sites or manlifts alone.
Emergency responders from the Cincinnati Police Department and Cincinnati Fire Departmentresponded to the scene, ODOT said. The agency declined to provide details about the circumstances of the accident while the federal investigation remains pending.
ODOT confirmed that a manlift was involved but would not discuss what aspects of the contractor's safety practices, equipment inspections, operator training or worksite conditions might be under review.
Questions about the cause of the accident remain unanswered
Questions about whether the accident involved a tip-over, mechanical failure, ground instability or another cause should be directed to OSHA, ODOT said.
OSHA did not respond to an Enquirer request for additional information.
An ODOT spokesperson said she was not aware of any other OSHA-reported incidents involving Walsh-Kokosing. The agency does not maintain historical data on comparable fatal accidents involving similar equipment, she said.
The timeline for completion of the OSHA investigation remains unclear. ODOT said it does not know when findings or any potential citations might become publicly available.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fatal accident at Brent Spence worksite involved manlift
