Fatal Accident at Echelon Construction Site
A 49-year-old carpenter tragically fell approximately 15 feet and died from a fatal head injury at the Echelon construction site. This incident marks the first fatality at the Echelon site but is the 12th death related to construction on the Strip in the past 18 months. The news is both shocking and concerning.
Details of the Incident
The carpenter was dismantling scaffolding in the basement level of the Echelon tower when the fall occurred. Work at the tower has been suspended as investigations into the accident begin. The exact cause of the fall is still unclear. The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), along with Boy Gaming, Marnell, and Tishman, are conducting investigations to determine the cause. The victim was employed by Marnell Corrao, the concrete prime contractor.
Involvement of Construction Management
Tishman Construction serves as the construction manager for Echelon. OSHA has initiated investigations but has not yet released specific details about the findings.
Broader Safety Concerns
The situation at the Echelon site is part of a broader pattern of construction-related fatalities on the Strip. Over the past year and a half, six workers have died at the MGM Mirage's CityCenter site, and two workers have been killed at the Cosmopolitan site. Both projects are overseen by the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trade Council, which has raised concerns about safety practices, particularly with the general contractor, Perini Building Co. OSHA and the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration have conducted safety reviews of these sites.
Worker Concerns and Project Timeline
Construction workers have reported feeling pressured due to tight deadlines on Strip projects, which may increase the likelihood of accidents. The Echelon project, a significant development, is scheduled to open in 2010.
