Work Resumes, OSHA Investigates After Collapse

Feb. 15, 2000
OSHA investigators said they will focus on the procedures used by workers who were pouring concrete at a Philadelphia construction site.

Work resumed Friday at the construction site of the Regional Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia as OSHA investigators searched for a cause of last week's accident that injured eight workers.

A spokeswoman for OSHA, Leni Uddyback, said two structural engineers are examining the site where a ramp for an underground parking garage collapsed Thursday, dropping eight men approximately 40 feet into 40 tons of wet concrete.

Dominick Salvatore, Philadelphia's OSHA enforcement officer, said the agency's investigation will focus on two points: the procedure used by workers who were pouring the concrete, and the design specifications for the support scaffolding.

"By statute we have six months to complete our investigation," said Uddyback.

The ramp section of construction was blocked off Friday.

City Managing Director Joseph Martz said that Licenses & Inspections officials were working with OSHA.

"There is nothing to report so far," said Martz. "We're just supplying them with whatever they need."

The concrete was poured to build a 30 -foot ramp from the street to what will be an underground garage for the center, which will house the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Five of the workers remained hospitalized as of Saturday, in stable condition.

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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