Scottsbluff, NE — Two men were hospitalized after being trapped beneath a telecommunications tower in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. The accident took place near the intersection of Avenue R and West Overland around 12:00 in the afternoon.
According to local reports, one of the men fell about 10 feet when the tower collapsed, and the other fell about 20 feet. Officials say that the tower is currently under construction, and that the accident happened while there was a wind advisory in effect.
The two men were employees of Viaero Wireless. Their names have not been released. After emergency workers arrived on the scene, the men were taken to Regional West Medical Center.
The accident is currently being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which has said that it’s seen an increase of preventable injuries and fatalities at sites like this one.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
I have to wonder what sort of safety procedures Viaero has in place at a site like this, and what sort of contingency plans they have in planning for situations like this. If the wind is going to blow then it’s going to blow, so the company has to plan for that. Beyond that, they have to make sure the site is safe for employees to be working there. Was this a safe work site? Workers’ comp laws can change from state to state, but if a company knew that something was a safety hazard and didn’t take steps to fix it, it’s possible that they can be held responsible for that. News reports said that Viaero officials declined to comment on the accident at the scene. I’m starting to get a sense of why.
— Grossman Law Offices
