If you want to keep your construction business running smoothly, without any hiccups or bumps, it is crucial that you stay up to date on all safety regulations, standards, and practices. It is essential that you and your employees are following all proper safety procedures, not only for their safety but for the safety of others as well. When safety procedures are not followed and corners are cut to either save time or cut costs, lives are lost, fines are paid, and trauma is inflicted.
The Scaffolding Collapse at Pleasants Power Stations
Willow Islands, April 27, 1978, fifty-one (51) construction workers lost their lives after the scaffolding they were working on collapsed. The cause? After the cable hoisting buckets of concrete failed, the crane being used to lift them suffered severe strain, causing it to fall forward, inside of the tower. At this point, the current day’s work, as well as the previous day’s work begin to collapse, falling inwards. Concrete, wooden beams, and metal scaffolding collapsed, taking all fifty-one workers to their deaths.Resulting Investigation
The very same day, OSHA’s investigation team arrived on the scene to investigate what had occurred and why it had happened. Upon their investigation, OSHA uncovered a number of safety issues that had been ignored.- Scaffolding that had been attached to concrete had not been given enough time to properly cure.
- Bolts holding the scaffolding were both missing and of the insufficient grade.
- There was only one access ladder, preventing individuals from escaping and causing escape restrictions.
- The concrete hoisting system had been improperly modified without supervision and inspection by a certified engineer.
- Contractors rushed the construction.