Multiple construction workers’ accidents on the Newburgh-Beacon bridge over the Hudson River have lead to the temporary suspension of work on the project.
A 46-year old union painter was injured while working in the containment system, a device that is supposed to prevent paint chips from falling into the river during the repainting and lead abatement project. He was sandblasting under the bridge roadway when he fell. Like the two workers who fell a few weeks ago, he was wearing a safety harness that prevented him falling off the bridge.
He was lifted in a basket by a crane to the bridge roadway. The extent of his injuries w not known, but they were serious enough to stop traffic on the ridge so that a helicopter could land in order to airlift him to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
The rescue effort involved the other bridge workers, firefighters, Newburgh Police, New York State Police and emergency medical personnel.
OSHA reportedly inspected the just before the first accident on May 21 and found everything to be in compliance with OSHA regulations. The contractor working on the bridge has had no problems before the previous incident. The company is in the second year of a three year contract.
In addition to the OSHA investigation of the May 21 accident, the New York State Bridge Authority is also investigating.
Source: recordonline.com, “Injured painter rescued on Newburgh-Beacon Bridge,” Jun. 7, 2013.