OSHA investigating construction worker’s death

The death of a construction worker after a crane strap broke and plywood fell at a work site in German Village remains under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The incident, which happened Wednesday morning at Jaeger and East Kossuth streets, occurred on a site managed by CK Construction Group, a Westerville-based construction company.

In a statement, CK Construction said the employee who died worked for a subcontractor. The worker has not been identified.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss,” the statement said. “All those who are involved are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate this tragic accident.”

OSHA Area Director Larry Johnson confirmed to The Dispatch the agency is investigating the incident.

Johnson said the death resulted from a stack of plywood of over 1,000 lbs. hitting the worker. The plywood was strapped to a tower crane, however, the strap failed.

While CK Construction manages the site, five to six subcontractors are also represented on the site, Johnson said. The names of the subcontractors are still being determined.

CK Construction has had OSHA violations in the past.

According to records, OSHA cited CK Construction, formerly Corna-kokosing, with two prior safety violations in the past 10 years.

A 2017 violation arose after a construction worker suffered an injury on a site at 61 Moss Road in Westerville, in which a power buggy fell, and struck and pinned an employee against a wall. The worker was hospitalized for fractures of his left arm and left leg that required surgery. The accident resulted in an OSHA penalty of $9,126.

The company also received a violation in 2014 after a planned inspection found a serious fall hazard.

The company’s most recent planned inspection, in 2020, resulted in no violations.