A scaffolding worker on a Kiewit Offshore project died after he fell into the La Quinta Channel in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Oct. 1.
An onsite safety officer reported that the worker fell from scaffolding and did not resurface. Both the Corpus Christi Police and the U.S. Coast Guard were called to the scene, and divers found the body later that day in the channel.
The worker, whom local news outlet KIIITV identified as Ricardo Jazael Loredo Padron, 29, was wearing a safety harness, tool belt and inflatable life jacket, which failed to deploy. It was unclear whether the safety harness was tied to the scaffolding and how far Padron fell before hitting the water.
The offshore services arm of Omaha, Nebraska-based contractor Kiewit has a 555-acre facility in Corpus Christi, and specializes in the construction of offshore rig projects. The contractor ranked third biggest in the U.S. on the ENR 400 in 2022, and its offshore practice regularly ranks No. 1 on ENR’s list of offshore and underwater facilities contractors.
Kiewit did not immediately respond to Construction Dive’s request for comment, but told The News Observer in a statement, “This news is devastating and our hearts go out to the subcontractor’s family, friends and coworkers.”
“Nothing is more important to Kiewit than safety,” the statement said. “We are working with authorities to investigate this incident and ensure something like this never happens again at KOS.”
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The Cincinnati-based contractor's Urban Workforce Development Initiative draws local, under-represented workers into the building industry.
As the nation's infrastructure ages, projects get creative with technology and staffing.
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