THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200395
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The investigation of Tuesday's cave-in at the Norfolk City Jail annex could take months, a state safety official said Wednesday.
``I'd be surprised if we really know what caused it,'' said Dick Crawford, the director of Occupational Safety Enforcement Division.
``There's a good chance we won't find any physical evidence that could give an absolute answer,'' Crawford said. ``It's really just a matter of talking to people to see if anybody knows what happened.''
Crawford is more sure about the length of the investigation, however: By state law, it should not take longer than six months.
The third floor of the $21.5 million project collapsed about 8 a.m. as workers were pouring concrete. Temporary shoring underneath the floor apparently gave way, sending 100 tons of concrete and at least six workers crashing down to the unfinished building's second floor.
No one was seriously injured. In all, eight construction workers were taken to hospitals for strains, sprains, bruises and scrapes. A firefighter paramedic was treated at a hospital for heat exhaustion.
On Wednesday, while construction workers cleaned up the rubble, officials continued to investigate. They are looking for anything abnormal or suspicious to determine if human error or faulty materials caused the shoring to fail.
Crawford said the process will consist of three parts:
Surveying the site.
Searching for physical defects, such as a weakened support.
Interviewing workers, supervisors and possible witnesses.
The interview stage is perhaps most crucial because the parties involved are interested in getting answers to the accident's cause, Crawford said.
``Maybe someone saw something break or buckle,'' he said.
All the construction companies involved have been cooperating with the investigation, a safety official in Norfolk said. Interviewing had not started Wednesday.
``With any investigation there's always the possibility of citations for safety standards that were violated, and with those citations is the possibility of penalty,'' the official said.
If an employee is found to be at fault, a citation could be issued to the employee's company, Crawford said. If equipment or material is the cause, it will be up to the construction company to file a complaint.
Crawford's department is a part of Virginia Occupational Safety and Health, based in Richmond. VOSH is the state-run version of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
``We have to respond to any situation where there are three or more people are sent to the hospital or (if there is) a fatality,'' Crawford said.
Crawford said the agency does not employ engineers or scientists to examine structural weaknesses. However, if that is suspected, the equipment may be sent to an outside professional testing lab.
``That's generally what we go through,'' he said. ``But most of the time the accident is not covered in concrete like this one.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Paul Aiken
[photo of the jail collapse]
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY JAIL COLLAPSE ACCIDENT GENERAL INJURIES by CNB