The city of Knoxville is still grieving the death of construction worker Solin Estrada Jimenez, who died in at a worksite in the city when a piece of concrete fell on him. His death was a vivid reminder of how dangerous construction accidents can be.
The project Mr. Jimenez was working on was the Henley Street Bridge, one of the main thoroughfares over the Tennessee River in Knoxville. The project is projected to cost $12.5 million, but work on the bridge has stopped so the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) can conduct investigations. The state did not issue a stop work order, but the company responsible for the project, Britton Bridge, LLC, voluntarily shut the site down for the state to inspect it.
Unfortunately, Mr. Jimenez was not the first casualty at this Britton Bridge worksite. Earlier this year, a 33-year-old construction worker named John Womac was killed while operating a piece of heavy machinery known as a track hoe. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health administration cited the company for almost $17,000 after an investigation found that Womac had not received adequate training on the machinery prior to his assignment to operate it.
It is unknown at this time what actions regulatory agencies may take against Britton Bridge for Mr. Jimenez's death. TOSHA has 180 days after the completion of its investigation to cite an offending company.
In the near future, however, the state has banned Britton Bridge, LLC, from bidding on future state construction projects.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, or if a loved one has been killed as a result of a workplace accident, please seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to understand your rights and the types of compensation to which you may be entitled.
