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A Philadelphia worker was injured on the job this week when a large piece of construction equipment toppled onto him, breaking his femur. The worker had reportedly been in a construction lift known as a cherry picker, which is a piece of equipment more than 20-feet tall that is used to reach high parts of building facades or trees.
The accident occurred in Center City on Monday afternoon. No one on the ground was injured in the accident, although the worker was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The worker was repairing sections of the rectory of the Catholic Cathedral on 18th and Race Streets, according to church officials.
According to official reports, the accident caused quite a scene when the equipment toppled over, stretching across the street and blocking traffic for several hours as crews attempted to right the lift. Fellow workers and emergency responders quickly rushed to help the victim after the accident, witnesses reported.
The 33-year-old victim joins a list of other local construction workers who have suffered significant injury while using the same type of equipment. In 2009, a construction worker was killed while using a cherry picker when the lift toppled in a nearby Center City location.
In that case, the lift fell over, first striking an apartment complex before toppling into the street. Three bystanders were also injured as a result of falling debris in the 2009 accident.
Construction companies are responsible for not only maintaining the health and safety of their workers, but also for protecting the welfare of the general public on adjacent streets and sidewalks. Appropriate safety precautions should always be in place to prevent this type of construction site accident.
Sources: NBC Philadelphia, “Cherry Picker Tips Over in Center City, Injuring Worker,” Dan Stamm, Feb. 7, 2012; WIBW News, “1 Killed in Philadelphia Crane Collapse,” Oct 12, 2009