Violated Safety Standards Caused Fatal Indiana Stage Collapse

Wind gusts of 59 mph blew down stage rigging which should have been able to withstand gusts of up to 68 mph, killing seven and injuring scores of others last summer at a state fair concert, according to reports delivered April 12 to a 90 minute meeting of the Indiana State Fair Commission. According to the report from engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, which investigated the calamity for the Commission, the stage rigging’s support system began to collapse at gusts of 33 mph, and by the time wind speeds reached 43 mph the structure could no longer stand.

Thornton Tomasetti Vice President Scott Nacheman said testing showed gusts of only 25 mph could have collapsed the structure as built. The engineering report described the stage support system as “grossly inadequate.”

Tishman Sued Over Worker Death In Casino Lightening Strike

The widow of a concrete finisher killed when lightening struck the tower crane at the Revel Hotel and Casino construction project in Atlantic City filed suit against general contractor Tishman Construction April 4, 2012, joined by the two other nearby workers who were also hit by the lightening, but survived. The three were placing concrete on the top level of the building as a thunderstorm approached the site, but according to the lawsuit, the contractor pressed on for completion of the pour. Lightening struck the tower crane and electrocuted Bryan Bradley, who was gripping the steel concrete bucket still suspended from the rigging. The other two workers were a few feet away, and were knocked down by the force of the bolt.

Tishman’s Director of Public Affairs John Gallagher responded to the court filing with the terse statement, “Although we cannot comment on pending matters, we would note that entities investigating the incident last year, including OSHA, did not find us at fault.”