SEYMOUR >> A construction worker sustained injuries to his face and leg Tuesday after falling some 25 feet from a senior apartment building currently being built downtown.<\/p>\n
The worker, whose identity was not available, was taken to Waterbury Hospital with face and chest injuries.<\/p>\n
Police Deputy Chief Paul Satkowski said the worker was erecting steel at the building, under construction at 38 Columbus St., when he fell some two stories around 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
Satkowski said the worker\u2019s injuries were \u201cnon-life threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local architect Joe Migani of Seymour-based O\u2019Riordan Migani Architects is the property owner.<\/p>\n
Migani said the steelworker \u201ctripped and fell after work was completed as he was coming down from the steel frame and getting onto a ladder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis tether and safety harness broke his fall after 10 feet but let go as he swung in the air and let him drop to the ground approximately 12 feet below,\u201d Migani added.<\/p>\n
Migani said protocol was followed, and OSHA and the state crane inspector were immediately notified and on site within 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe crane had completed its work and was in the process of leaving the site when the accident occurred,\u201d Migani said. \u201cThe crane was not involved in any way with the accident. It is unknown at this time if any OSHA citations or fines will be issued. Citations, if warranted, will be issued to the Steel Subcontractor who is responsible for the safety of his operations and crew.\u201d<\/p>\n
An official from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration was dispatched to the site to conduct an investigation, according to an OSHA spokesperson from the Bridgeport branch of the federal agency. The spokesperson said he had \u201cno information\u201d to report at this time.<\/p>\n
Fire Marshal Paul Wetowitz said because the site is privately owned and there is a private contractor working on the project, neither his office nor the town has any jurisdiction there, so he was unable to offer any details about the incident.<\/p>\n
Migani\u2019s attorney, Dominick Thomas, had estimated construction would last 12 to 16 months, but said the actual building itself should be fully enclosed by the end of summer.<\/p>\n
After evaluation at the hospital, it was determined the worker suffered fractured ribs and a broken nose and will be able to return to work in one week, according to Migani.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful that safety precautions in place worked and that no one sustained serious injury,\u201d Migani said.<\/p>\n
Migani got approval from the town\u2019s Planning and Zoning Commission in November 2012 to build a five-story, 26-unit senior apartment building on the property. The roughly $6 million project is the second phase of Migani\u2019s existing senior apartment complex at 16 Bank St., which was built in 2008 in the former Eckhardt Furniture building.<\/p>\n
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Migani said work resumed on the site Tuesday with OSHA\u2019s permission two hours after the incident. He said to his knowledge, \u201call required safety measures were in place at the time of the incident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConstruction is just dangerous work and despite everyone\u2019s best efforts, accidents can and do happen,\u201d Migani said.<\/p>\n