An Ultimate I-4 project worker in Orange County died when he was struck in the head by a large iron pipe, the fourth in the project’s six year construction cycle, officials said.
Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) said the 59-year-old SGL Constructors employee was struck by an 18-inch by 20-foot pipe on Feb. 4. as it was being moved along Wymore Road.
The victim suffered a severe head injury and was unconscious when OCFR arrived, officials said. He died in the Advent Health Orlando hospital.
#UPDATE Wymoor/Riddle construction accident: @OrangeCoSheriff deputy cordons off the scene where a worker was struck by an 18-inch by 20-foot iron pipe. pic.twitter.com/qQvnWwuZvH
— OCFire Rescue (@OCFireRescue) February 4, 2019
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague,” SGL said in a statement. “Our focus now is to provide support to the family and our workers during this difficult time.”
All construction work on the entire 21-mile corridor was temporarily suspended a SGL spokesperson said in an email to Orlando News 6.
The $2 billion highway expansion is a little less than two-thirds complete.
There has been at least three earlier deaths on the project. In one, in 2016 a worker was killed when a truck backed into him. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined SGL $12,741, citing a serious violation.
“Providing a safe environment for our workers and the citizens of Florida is the highest priority of SGL Constructors,” the contractor said in a statement. “We are taking this incident very seriously and will take appropriate action following the investigation to ensure the utmost safety at the project.”
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) spokesperson Steve Olsen said the “department will request from the concessionaire the findings and the final report related to this incident. FDOT will also request an action plan/follow-up plan. Prior plans have resulted in safety improvements within the construction corridor.”