Builder fined $1,500 in deadly Carson accident

A Penrose construction company has been fined $1,500 for its role in a 2007 Fort Carson construction accident that killed one of its workers and seriously injured another.

After a five-month investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Hardrock Structures for a “serious” violation on July 9, 2007, when a concrete girder fell during the construction of an office building on the Army post.

Billy Needham, 39, of Cañon City died after being hit by falling concrete. Paul Snow, 44, of Penrose suffered severe injuries to his face, wrists, internal organs and right leg after being thrown from a lift cage.

OSHA investigators concluded Hardrock didn’t watch the rigging that maneuvered the girder closely enough, said John Healy, director of the agency’s Englewood office.

“The company really didn’t have a strong practice of training their people in following up and monitoring that they are paying attention to rigging at all times,” Healy said.

Hardrock owner Nicole Thomas on Thursday declined to comment on the report, saying it hasn’t been fully resolved with OSHA.

Both sides plan to meet today to discuss the findings. Hardrock has until Jan. 23 to contest the report, Healy said.

Several contractors worked on the project, with Hardrock serving as a subcontractor for Stresscon Corp., a concrete company working for Mortenson Construction, said Bob Hansen, vice president and general manager of Mortenson’s Denver office.

On the day of the accident, another subcontractor had hoisted the concrete girder into place on the building. Crews decided to level the girder by lifting up one side and inserting shims underneath — the job that Snow performed, Healy said.

The crane operator then replaced the girder and began to retract the crane’s rigging when it snagged on an eyelet, or hole, in the girder, causing it to fall, Healy said.

Hardrock should have been paying closer attention to the rigging as the crane retracted it, Healy said.

OSHA’s report cites the entire company for the accident, not an individual employee, Healy said.

For this type of serious violation, OSHA typically fines a company $5,000, but Hardrock’s fine was reduced because it’s a small company with no record of OSHA violations, Healy said.

Needham’s wife, Kathy Needham, said Hardrock told her one employee was at fault. Needham said she doesn’t blame the entire company for her husband’s death.

“It wasn’t specifically the owners of Hardrock Structures. It was an employee of Hardrock Structures,” she said.

Hardrock’s Thomas declined to say if one employee was responsible for the accident and whether that person still works for the company.

Needham’s family is coping with the loss the best they can.

“The holidays were tough for our family, but we’re doing OK,” she said.

Needham added that “Hardrock Structures has been absolutely wonderful to me throughout this entire process.”

Paul Snow’s wife, Patrece Snow, said her husband is walking again, but he’s depressed because the accident left him blind.

“He’s seen for 44 years and all of a sudden it’s taken away,” she said.

The Snows have filed a personal injury lawsuit in Denver District Court against some of the other contractors working on the building, including Stresscon Corp., Colorado court records show. The family can’t sue Hardrock Structures, Patrece Snow said, because workers’ compensation laws prohibit it. Both sides are to appear in court March 5.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Fort Carson building, which should be finished by August, Mortenson Construction’s Hansen said.

Hardrock is continuing its work on the project, he said.