As an update to Saturday night’s incident involving a fatality, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) today met with the I-4 Ultimate contractor, SGL Constructors, to discuss plans, protocols and safety measures. At this time, the entire 21-mile project remains shutdown, except for maintenance, emergency repairs that might become necessary, and road ranger patrols that are a part of this project.
In discussions with the contractor, crews will return to their respective job sites and field offices Tuesday for assessment of safety plans, procedures, adequacy of tools, work conditions and job site safety. The objectives for each crew and its supervisors are to assure compliance with all safety protocols before returning to work operations. It is expected these crews will be returning to work as the week continues and only after safety protocols and procedures have been completed. Other important items:
- The investigation into the fatal incident from Saturday night continues
- No girder erection/installation will be performed on the project until this investigation progresses substantially and the root causes of Saturday’s incident can be understood
- The contractor has engaged a forensic engineer to assist with the investigation
- FDOT has offered technical assistance to the contractor and will closely monitor the progress and findings of the investigation including concurring with approval for girder erection to resume in the future
- OSHA investigators are on site and conducting an independent investigation.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) vision statement says this: “As one FDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.” It is our view the goal of fatality free extends to FDOT construction and maintenance projects, and to the contractors that perform the work.
