Building Collapse Kills Construction Worker Despite Alleged Notice Of Safety Concerns

More details are emerging from the construction accident that happened on April 14, 2009 in Houston, Texas that killed a construction worker.  Construction workers were working on a rehabilitation project for low-income housing.  There are a total of seven buildings located at the construction site.  Before Tuesday's building collapse, six of the buildings had been inspected.  The seventh building which collapsed, was set for inspection on Wednesday.  Unfortunately, the inspection was a day too late for the deceased construction worker who was crushed when the seventh building collapsed.  Camden Builders Inc., the general contractor for the rehabilitation project, has said that the collapsed building wasn't inspected with the others because it wasn't ready.  Camden Builders Inc. was apparently right - the building wasn't ready for inspection since it collapsed upon itself killing one and injuring two construction workers.

The rehabilitation project on the seven buildings had started back in December.  At least one of the construction workers has come forward and stated he had concerns with the building's safety.  According to this worker, the building that collapsed would move side to side, or sway, but he wasn't sure why.  Investigation officials believe there was not enough lateral bracing which caused the frame of the building to fall like a domino.

Hopefully OSHA and the City of Houston will be able to determine what caused this accident and why building seven wasn't ready for inspection.