One worker was seriously injured and another worker suffered minor injuries when an airport hangar collapsed in New Jersey on Jan. 16. The workplace accident took place while the workers were building a hangar at Morristown Municipal Airport on 6 Airport Road. At the time, the hangar was unfinished and consisted of only steel erector beams.
The hangar collapsed shortly before 11:16 a.m. for reasons that are still being investigated. During the collapse, a 35-year-old man suffered serious leg injuries when he fell. The injured worker received treatment from Morristown Medical Services EMS and Atlantic Health Paramedics before he was taken to Morristown Medical Center. His condition was listed as stable. A 37-year-old worker was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated after sustaining minor bruising on his arm.
A Toms River company called 360 Steel Erectors was reportedly responsible for erecting the hangar. The owner of the building, SL Aviation, stated that the hangar had been designed and fabricated by Varco Pruden. The accident is under investigation by local law enforcement as well as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. There were no statements issued by 360 Steel Erectors immediately following the hangar collapse.
A worker who has been injured after this type of serious workplace accident might wish to file a workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible. Regardless of who was at fault, an injured worker is entitled to claim lost wages and reimbursement for medical expenses. An attorney may be able to help a worker with this process to ensure that the claim is well supported with the appropriate evidence, and can also be of assistance at a subsequent hearing in the event that the claim is denied.
Source: NJ.com, “Worker seriously injured when airport hangar collapses, police say”, Justin Zaremba, Jan. 16, 2015