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Oct 25, 2024

1 worker dead, another in critical condition after scaffolding collapse at U. of C. construction site | Evening Digest | hpherald.com

The worksite of the Unviersity of Chicago Medicine's incoming cancer center, 56th Street and Maryland Avenue, where two workers plunged eight stories, killing one, after a scaffolding collapse on

The worksite of the Unviersity of Chicago Medicine's incoming cancer center, 56th Street and Maryland Avenue, where two workers plunged eight stories, killing one, after a scaffolding collapse on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

A 27-year-old technical engineer is dead and an ironworker is in critical condition after falling eight stories from a scaffolding collapse at the construction site of the University of Chicago’s cancer center on Thursday.

Shortly after 12:15 p.m. on June 6, strong winds caused scaffolding at the construction site on the 5600 block of South Maryland Avenue to collapse, Chicago fire officials said. David O’Donnell of Oak Forest was pronounced dead on the scene, and the other worker was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, just steps away from the site of the accident.

The Sun-Times reports that Larry Langford, spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department, was on the scene shortly after the fatal accident and described the scaffolding as still “swinging around in the wind.”

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 40 miles per hour that afternoon throughout the Chicago area. Guidelines from the industry group the Scaffolding Shoring & Forming Institute advise against working on scaffolding “if wind exceeds 25 mph.”

OSHA and Chicago police are investigating the accident. The general contractor for the project, Turner Construction, halted work on the site following the accident.

“This is an extremely sad day. Our hearts are broken,” said Chris McFadden, a spokesperson for Turner Construction, in a statement. “The safety and wellbeing of everyone on our sites is so important to us. We work extremely hard to prevent days like this and we have halted all construction activity.”

McFadden said that grief counseling services will be available to workers on the site in the days and weeks ahead.

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Sun and clouds mixed. High near 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Thunder possible. Low near 50F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated: October 24, 2024 @ 3:01 pm

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