It could take a half a year before the investigation is complete into exactly what went wrong leading up to a worker’s death on December 3 during renovations at Kyle Field at Texas A&M University. Activity ground to a halt after the man fell four stories to his death. From TV station KBTX on the day of the accident:
“Kyle Field is currently undergoing significant construction for its redevelopment. Manhattan-Vaughn Construction out of Houston is the company leading the project, which began in August around Kyle Field, then kicked into high gear at the end of the home schedule of the football season last month. The university's athletic department has shut down its popular cameras on the redevelopment website, KyleField.com.
“This is the second major incident on campus this year at a construction site. In June, four workers contracted to Gamma Construction were injured when the new equine center facility collapsed as it was being built.”
The worker was later identified as Angel Garcia, a 25-year-old employee of Dallas-based Lindamood Demolition. From the Bryan College-Station Eagle:
“‘Because Garcia was working for a subcontractor, OSHA's jurisdiction may supersede the university's policies,’ said Texas A&M Engineering Safety Department manager David Breeding. ‘Texas A&M University does not fall directly under OSHA jurisdiction,’ Breeding said. ‘Generally in a fatality, OSHA may come in under an advisory capacity.’
“The determining factor, he added, will be the language in the contract between Texas A&M University and Manhattan-Vaughn Construction, the prime contractor, as well as that in any contracts with companies such as Lindamood Demolition.”
Interestingly, the website Culture Map in Houston picked up on the story as well, framing the story as a “mystery” of sorts. From their story:
“Though details are hazy, Angel Garcia was working on a spiral pedestrian ramp at the northeast side of the stadium, which is undergoing a massive $450 million renovation.
“The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — along with university police and primary contractor Manhattan-Vaughan Construction – will continue an investigation that could last as long as six months, according to officials.
“It remains unclear how the incident and OSHA analysis will affect the stadium's first phase of construction, which was scheduled to be complete by early September for A&M's first home football game against Lamar University next season.”
As all these stories note, the accident comes about six months after four workers were injured during construction of the new equestrian center on A&M property.
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