Construction worker falls 4 stories

FLORENCE - A construction worker was airlifted to a hospital from the Residence Inn hotel construction site Monday after falling more than four stories.

The worker was identified by an official at the scene as Oscar Frasco. He is employed by H&O Framers, a subcontractor for Probuilt Development, the Fort Myers, Fla., general contractor building the four-story, 110-room hotel on Florence Boulevard.

The accident happened about noon. Attempts to determine his condition or contact the hospital to which he was admitted were unsuccessful Monday night.

A representative of H&O Framers, who did not identify himself, said the worker fell from a bucket lift truck from a height of more than four stories.

An emergency medical technician at the scene said Frasco was awake and conscious as he was being loaded into the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter. He was talking and had feeling in his extremities, according to workers at the scene.

"He's doing good," the EMT told the worker's brother, who declined comment. "He's very lucky."

A man who identified himself as the construction superintendent would not comment on the accident, nor would he give his name, his employer's name or confirm the worker's name. The man went inside a trailer that had both the names Probuilt Development, a division of Inford Building Group, and Forum Architecture & Interior Design Inc., on its side.

Forum Architecture is an Altamont Springs, Fla.-based architectural firm that specializes in the multifamily dwelling, clubhouse, resort and hospitality markets.

The H&O Framers employee said the worker was wearing a safety harness when the accident occurred.

The injured man was employed as a framer, which is a carpenter who assembles the major structural elements of wood-framed buildings such as walls and roof trusses.

Florence Police, Florence Fire and Rescue and Lauderdale County Emergency Medical Service responded to the accident.

Police officer Chris Atencio said police would not be filing a report since no crime had occurred.

"Florence Fire and Rescue does not plan on doing any formal report," Fire Chief Charles Cochran said. "It doesn't fall under our jurisdiction."

Cochran said the accident would fall within the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

Roberto Sanchez, area director of the OSHA office in Birmingham, said the man's employer does not have to report the incident.

"They have no obligation (to report) unless there is a fatality or the hospitalization of three people or more," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said workers in bucket trucks are required to attach their safety harnesses to the anchor point inside the bucket at all times.

"He's required to have a safety belt," Sanchez said. "If he was to be thrown out, he'd be hanging by his safety belt."

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.