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From: John Young <jya@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 09:58:06 -0400
ENR, October 2, 1995
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---------
ENR Editorial
Project team communication is a life and death matter
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
concluded its investigation into the collapse of a steel
lighting tower canopy at Atlanta's Olympic Stadium on March
20 that killed one worker. But it is keeping particularly
mum about its findings. What little it does reveal at press
time indicates that some members of the design team had
discovered a design flaw that prevented the towers from
supporting the actual loads and failed to communicate that
information to the steel erector whose employee died.
OSHA is not charging the erector with any safety violations
and it is too soon to say where the responsibility for the
accident ultimately lies (see [below]). But however
it shakes out, Jack L. Falls will remain dead. His death
should not be in vain. It should serve as yet another grim
reminder of how dangerous the industry is and how important
it is for every single member of a project team to really
work as a team for the safety and protection of everyone on
the site.
The pages of ENR over the years have been filled with many
tragic construction accidents that could have been
prevented. And this apparently is yet another one. Swift
and effective communication of potential hazards is
essential for any safety program to work. Mistakes will
occur in any human endeavor, but mere embarrassment or
financial loss is a small price to pay when lives are at
stake.
----------
Designer discovered flaw before failure
The steel lighting tower canopy that failed March 20 at
Atlanta's Olympic stadium, killing one steelworker, could
not have even supported its planned load of lamp beds let
alone the actual load. So says the federal Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, which recently concluded
its report on the accident. OSHA also maintains that the
designer knew of its error 10 days before the fatal failure
and did not inform the steel fabricator-erector.
Consequently, OSHA is not issuing any citations or fines.
Rather, it has turned the matter over to the state's
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Licensing Board.
However, there is no investigation there yet.
Shortly after the canopy collapse, the Atlanta Stadium
Design Team (ASDT) did acknowledge that the lighting beds
weighed 16,500 or 17,000 lbs -- 10,000 lb more than assumed
in the design. But "we're saying that didn't make any
difference," says Thomas L. Brown, director of OSHA's
Atlanta West Area Office. As designed, the assembly would
not even have held up the 6,500 or 7,000 lb intended load,
adds Brown.
The 150-ft-tall lighting tower assembly consists of three
interconnected ladder trusses, which are along the stadium
perimeter. They rise 150 ft before projecting 38 ft into
the stadium to frame a 90-ft-wide cantilevered canopy. Lamp
trusses are attached across the arms' tapered tips. In the
failure, each truss bottom chord buckled at the column
connection, like an outstretched arm crumpling at the
shoulder. The columns remained standing until the entire
assembly was removed.
Brown's comments came two days after he announced Sept. 20
that OSHA had concluded its "comprehensive engineering
analysis" of the accident. But Brown is refusing to release
the 3-in.-thick report, insisting that requests for it be
made under the Freedom of Information Act.
Noah Long, the spokesman for ASDT, says he cannot comment
until he reads the report, which he says he also has to
request under the Freedom of Information Act. He adds
another reason for not commenting: "This is a litigious
society. "
Long is a senior vice president of Rosser International
Inc., a local architect-engineer that designed the $207
million stadium with Heery International Inc. and
Williams-Russell and Johnson Inc., both Atlanta, and
Ellerbe Becket Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
Known deficiencies. OSHA says ASDT discovered structural
design deficiencies in the tower at least 10 days before
the accident but that the design team never notified the
steel fabricator-erector, Helmark Steel Inc., Wilmington,
Del. "If somebody had told the contractor, I would be
holding the contractor responsible," Brown says.
Helmark maintains it was not alerted. Long responds: "I
have not said that we didn't [alert Helmark]; I have not
said that we did." He adds: "It is not normal for designers
to give subcontractors direction."
Without having seen the OSHA report, the Atlanta Committee
for the Olympic Games declines to comment at this time.
Meanwhile, John O'Brien, Helmark's president, says that
final design for bracing all four light towers arrived last
week, months later than expected.
By Tony Heffernan in Atlanta