Workers recover fourth body after parking garage collapses

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 759 workers were killed inconstruction accidents in 2011, many of which were caused by mistakes that could have been prevented. One attorney explained that "thoroughly investigating the causes of construction accidents and learning from those that occur" allows regulators and employers to reduce the number of injuries and deaths at construction sites.

In light of this, news of a recent incident has surfaced. Miami-Dade rescue workers have located and recovered a fourth victim killed by the sudden collapse of an uncompleted parking garage. Authorities believe the body is likely that of the fourth worker who went missing following the fatal accident, but a coroner has yet to confirm the victim's identity.

The garage collapsed recently, leaving several workers trapped in rubble. Other than the recently discovered victim, three other workers were killed by the collapse. One victim was still alive after rescue workers amputated his leg to pull him from the wreckage, but he later died in the hospital.

The CEO of the contractor in charge of the construction stressed that his company would cooperate with investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to determine the cause of the accident. Some media reports suggest that an incident in which a crane struck the garage several days before the fatal accident may have contributed to the collapse.

If OSHA finds that the contractor was negligent or unsafe in its construction of the garage, the company could face serious fines and other penalties. Additionally, the families of the victims could file wrongful death lawsuits in order to seek compensation for the pain and grief caused by the loss of their loved ones.

Source: EHS Today, "Fourth Worker Found Dead in Florida Garage Collapse," Laura Walter, Oct. 16, 2012