5 hurt, 1 critically, after wall falls on workers at Bedford home
BEDFORD – Five people were hurt after a wall collapsed at a home under construction in Bedford Wednesday. One of them has life-threatening injuries.
It happened just after 7:30 a.m. on Dunster Road. Eight workers were raising a large wall into place on the second level of a new garage when it fell on them.
Two workers were seriously hurt. A bystander gave one of them CPR at the scene. Three other workers were treated for minor injuries at the hospital.
"I'm really worried and concerned for them and their families and for the owners of the home you know? They are very sweet family," neighbor Lea Boland said.
A firefighter was also hurt, suffering a sprain during the rescue, but he was able to stay at the scene.
The fire chief said human error appears to be the cause of the incident.
"It seemed like they may have had too few workers for the weight of the wall, but again I'm not in a position to make that determination," said interim Bedford Fire Chief Paul Sheehan.
The workers are employed by E&G builders located in Boston.
Past reports from OSHA on the company show a 2018 citation for serious and willful violations involving fall protection on a site in Jamaica Plain and 2022 violation with serious and repeat violations in Newburyport.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident and will make the final determination.
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