Concrete subcontractor working on CHOP garage speaks out for first time since collapse
Workers were in the process of installing the structure’s floor decking and roof segments when the collapse occurred on April 8, leading all seven levels of a stair system to collapse.
Ohio-based Precast Services Inc., the concrete subcontractor on the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia garage project that collapsed last week and left three workers dead, issued its first public statement Thursday, more than a week after the fatal incident in Grays Ferry.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the tragic loss of our three team members,” a spokesperson for the company said in an emailed statement. “We are offering our continued support to the families, as well as our entire team as we all grapple with this tragedy.”
According to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, workers were in the process of installing the structure’s floor decking and roof segments on April 8 when the collapse occurred, causing all seven levels of the stair system on the 30th Street side of the building to fail.
Philadelphia’s Ironworkers Union Local 401 identified the men killed in the collapse as Stepan Shevchuk, Mark Scott Jr., and Matthew Kane. Shevchuk was pulled from the debris the day of the collapse and transported to a local hospital, where he died, while Scott’s and Kane’s bodies were recovered from the site early Monday after a careful demolition of what remained of the garage.
Precast concrete is a common construction material, poured and cured off-site in a temperature-controlled environment. It is popular in the construction of bridges and garages because it makes for predictable production of multiple segments at the same time and exposure to the elements is not an issue.
Still, the giant slabs can weigh 100 tons and connecting the pieces is delicate work. A mistake could be catastrophic.
CHOP also issued a statement Thursday, extending condolences to Local 401, praising first responders and Parker, and acknowledging the painful effects on neighbors and surrounding businesses.
“We recognize the impact of this tragic incident on them, and we will collaborate with the City to support their needs,” Dan Alt, CHOP’s brand and reputation manager, said in an email message.
Alt declined to comment on future plans for the garage project, and whether the hospital would continue to move forward at the Grays Ferry site.
“We know there are questions about the future of the site, but CHOP’s current priority is to fully cooperate with government agencies as they seek to investigate the cause of this tragic incident,” Alt said.
The collapse of the garage is under investigation by multiple entities.
Leading the federal investigation is the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which has six months to issue citations for violations of federal regulations.
Parker, meanwhile, signed an executive order Monday that directs the city’s law department to coordinate with the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General to produce a comprehensive report by mid-October. A City Council special committee is also slated to investigate the collapse.
Precast Services Inc. said Thursday it has a nearly 40-year history of installing prefabricated concrete. A company spokesperson said it would continue to work with the city, OSHA, and the multiple construction partners involved with the project “to find answers for the families.”
