Investigations are underway into dangerous collapses at two separate Norfolk County construction sites that occurred on Tuesday, January 28th.

South Shore emergency services responded to early morning reports of collapsed scaffolding at Washington and Edison streets in Quincy. According to local residents, the four-story scaffold had been installed this week on the site, which has been active for about a year. Workers managed to escape onto a balcony on the third floor and make their way to the ground. After a search of the debris, fire officials confirmed that all workers were accounted for and no injuries have yet been reported. 

Unfortunately, workers at a construction site in Weymouth were not as fortunate. Mario Diaz Obando, 29, of Fall River, Massachusetts, died after sustaining severe injuries in a collapse at a Vine Street site that occurred just before noon. Four other workers were injured when the two-story framing of the single-family home they were working on came crashing down, burying them in debris. Witnesses reported rescue crews having to use jacks and power tools to reach one of the people trapped in the rubble.

The entire Sheff & Cook team extends our deep condolences to all of the victims’ families.

Both incidents are under investigation by a number of agencies, including OSHA, the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, the Weymouth Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.

As we move into an era where efforts to reduce costs in the name of “efficiency” are in vogue, governmental regulation and enforcement of safety standards may be less rigorous, putting workers at increased risk of such tragic and preventable construction site accidents. Strong, gusty winds should not cause such catastrophic structural failures.  And, if there is any danger to workers’ safety from flying or falling debris, employees should simply not be permitted on the job site. No dedicated worker should be required to work at a job site with hazardous working conditions that could result in life-altering injuries impacting them and their families.

If you or someone you love has suffered catastrophic injury or wrongful death due a construction site accident, contact our team for a consultation.