A worker who fell about 25 feet from the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City miraculously landed on his feet and broke no bones, according to officials. Witnesses said the construction accident occurred when the man fell feet first to a ramp closed because of the ongoing construction project.
The worker, a 29-year-old man from Newark, did not lose consciousness and hospital staff at Jersey City Medical Center told police that the man’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The accident occurred around 9:30 AM as workers were installing temporary shielding meant to catch falling tools and debris from the bridge construction project. The work is part of a $1 billion project to rehab the aging skyway. The work is being performed by CCA Civil. The injured worker is a subcontractor for Petrie & Associates.
Although he broke no bones, the worker was apparently in extreme pain and was under observation at the hospital.
It is not yet clear why the worker fell. The accident will be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to see if any workplace safety violations caused the construction accident.
The northbound lanes of the Pulaski Skyway will be closed for two years while the work proceeds, causing significant disruption of traffic into New York City.
Source: NJ.com, “Pulaski Skyway worker falls 25 feet, doesn’t break single bone,” Feb. 23, 2014.