Construction accident remains under investigation

Construction accident remains under
investigation

An investigation is under way into the
circumstances surrounding the accident at a construction site on the Rice
University campus Thursday afternoon that resulted in the death of one
construction worker and injury of seven others. 

The death and injuries occurred when a severe thunderstorm with high winds and
lightning struck the campus around 4 p.m. The Rice Crisis Management Team is
still gathering information about the incident, but here is what has emerged to
date:

	JEFF FITLOW

As construction crews saw the lightning strikes from the rapidly developing
storm, they began vacating work sites and securing them for the storm. A small
group was finishing work at McMurtry College, one of two residential colleges
under construction on the north side of campus, when the site was struck by
powerful wind gusts that are reported to have measured more than 60 miles per
hour in some areas.  Five concrete block walls under construction for
rooms on the second floor toppled.  One
worker was dead at the scene and seven others were injured. Rice EMS initiated
patient care and then later assisted the Houston Fire Department crew. Four
construction workers were taken to the hospital but do not have life-threatening
injuries. The other three injured workers were treated at the scene and later
received additional hospital care; one of those three was admitted to the
hospital. As of Sunday morning, four of the workers remained in the hospital.

The workers are employed by Lucia, a masonry firm performing work for the
general contractor for the project, Linbeck. According to Linbeck, the deceased
worker was Juan Romero of Missouri City, Texas. The seven other injured
employees are Carlos Ayala, Natividad Chinchilla, Jorge Guzman, Bobby Martin,
Emigdio Moreno, Douglas Padilla and Noel Puente. Company officials have
notified the families.

OSHA has conducted an investigation of the accident. The worksite remains
closed for further investigations. Based on what is known to date, the accident
is believed to have been caused by the sudden severe windstorm.

Rice Vice President of Administration Kevin Kirby ordered all construction on
campus to stand down Friday morning while storm debris is cleared and the sites
are checked to ensure that safety was not compromised by the storm. Workers are
reviewing safety procedures as well. Work on most sites resumed Friday
afternoon. Safety procedures and track records are a key priority when
construction firms are hired for Rice projects, Kirby said.

Rice President David Leebron is overseas but has been informed of the tragedy
and expressed his deep condolences for the workers and their families. The
entire Rice community is deeply saddened by the loss of life and injury.

McMurtry College will be Rice’s 10th residential college. The five-story,
324-bed facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. Construction began
in 2007.

Information will be updated as available at www.rice.edu.