A Massachusetts construction accident has led to a stop-work order on the J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center in Salem.
The Salem District Court project on Federal Street in Salem was halted by the state last week after a 500-pound panel fell, seriously injuring a worker. Daniel O’Connell’s Sons of Holyoke, the project’s construction manager, told the Salem News that it has been ordered to stop installing the limestone panels.
The $106.5 million project includes 195,000 square feet of building space. Construction began in June 2007 and is scheduled to be completed in June 2011, according to the Massachusetts Division of Administration and Finance.
Two investigations are under way as officials attempt to determine the cause of the Massachusetts work accident. The construction manager has hired a private engineer to review the installation of the panels. Meanwhile, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the incident.
The 34-year-old construction worker was listed in fair condition on Friday at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was hospitalized on Tuesday after his legs were badly injured when a stone panel fell four stories and shattered on the ground.
The man is employed by General Mechanical Contractors of Auburn, a heating and air-conditioning subcontractor. That company said it was not involved in the cause of the accident.
Construction crews continue to work on other parts of the building but the accident scene remains roped off with police tape.
Anyone who has been injured on the job in Massachusetts should contact a Boston workers’ compensation attorney to discuss their rights. Call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment. Call 877-617-5333.