Cadence McShane Construction is facing scrutiny in the wake of a terrifying crane accident that injured 22 workers in Austin, Texas, yesterday morning.
Construction Workers Injured While Fleeing Scene
First responders were called to the Mueller community, a fast-growing mixed-use development in east Austin, shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16th. Although initial reports indicated a crane had collapsed, authorities later confirmed that two cranes had actually collided and become entangled.
Emergency medical personnel evaluated 22 workers on the scene, including 16 later sent to area hospitals. Four of those individuals were treated at Dell Seton Medical Center, three at St. David’s Medical Center, three at Seton Main Medical Center, three at South Austin Medical Center, and three at Seton Northwest.
For the most part, injuries were minor, with one exception. All injuries were sustained as workers fled to safety.
Crews Worked All Day to Separate Cranes
An operator stayed inside one of the crane’s cabs for more than an hour after the collision. Officials indicated he was in no danger and served as a “secondary safety” to ensure the cranes remained stable. Winds were a concern throughout the day, and emergency crews deployed two drones to get a better view and determine how to proceed.
The cranes were finally separated by 6:00 p.m., but roads near the intersection of Robert Browning Street and Mueller Boulevard remained closed off throughout Wednesday evening.
According to KVUE, the crane accident occurred at “Alpha Building”: a new, six-story, class-A office building and garage located in the Mueller development. Addison, Texas-based Cadence McShane Construction began work on Alpha Building in December 2019.
Cadence McShane Hit With 2 Serious OSHA Violations Since 2013
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has twice cited Cadence McShane for serious safety violations. The most recent violation followed the inspection of a San Antonio construction site in July 2017 and resulted in a proposed fine of $3,802. The company eventually agreed to settle the violation for $2,800.
In March 2013, Cadence McShane received an OSHA citation for another serious violation at a site in Fort Worth. While OSHA proposed a $4,000 penalty, the company ultimately paid just $2,000 to resolve that violation.
OSHA is investigating the Austin crane accident and has confirmed that Cadence McShane is a subject of its probe.
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