One Construction Worker Killed When San Marcos Building Collapsed

The erection of a new building usually signifies growth for a company, or for some businesses, it means a new beginning. What should have been seen as a step toward the future for one manufacturing company will now forever be marred by tragedy.

One construction worker was killed and another was seriously injured when the metal frame collapsed on a new building being built for Thermon Manufacturing, a Central Texas company that creates products for the oil and gas industry.

According to police reports, the pre-engineered metal structure fell just before noon. Emergency responders were on the scene almost immediately, as the building was only a block away from the San Marcos Police Department. Two contract workers were pulled from the twisted wreckage. One construction worker was transported to the University Medical Center in Austin. The second worker, a 34-year-old Salvadoran man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the fatal workplace accident.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was immediately notified of the accident by the building contractor, Bailey-Elliott of Austin. OSHA representatives were on the accident site the day after the collapse.

The cause of the building collapse is unknown. OSHA investigations into industrial accidents typically last for months before results are released to the public or workplace violation citations are issued to the company .

Source: Forbes.com, “Worker dies in accident at Thermon building,” 7/28/11.