Four Union Tradesmen Injured at Herrin Hospital

“Four construction workers were injured in an accident Thursday morning at Herrin Hospital while working on a masonry wall.

A news release from Jared Hites, project director for McCarthy Building Companies, said a section of exterior construction scaffolding collapsed at the site of a surgical expansion project at the hospital.

An eight-man crew was on the scaffolding when it collapsed. The four workers in the center were injured.

“It is our understanding that none of the injuries are considered life-threatening,” the release said.

All four were union trade workers and subcontractors employed by Joseph F. Becker, Inc. of Breese. Two were bricklayers and two were laborers. Two of the workers were transferred to St. Louis hospitals, and one was transferred to a hospital in Evansville, Indiana. The fourth was treated at Herrin Hospital and released.

“Being a hospital campus, the response was immediate,” Roz Rice, communications coordinator for SIH, said.

Rice added that construction at the specific accident site was halted, and OSHA was on the site Thursday.

“A full investigation into the specific cause of the incident has been launched. Construction work on the exterior of the expansion project will resume after the investigation has concluded,” Hite said in the press release. Construction will continue in other areas of the hospital.

Hospital operations were not impacted by the accident. Also, traffic around the hospital, including on North 13^th Street, was not interrupted.”

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a construction accident or in any type of work accident, contact a Mount Vernon workers compensation lawyer at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. for effective, experienced help pursuing recovery. Call us at (800) 553-3125 or email us via the contact form on this page to set up a free initial consultation, during which you can find out more about how we can help you.