In the wake of a tragic scaffold mishap at the University of Chicago cancer research center construction site, the family of ironworker Jeffrey Spyrka, who sustained serious injuries after plummeting from a scaffold during what have been described as high winds, has taken legal measures against Turner Construction Co. and Adjustable Forms Inc., as reported by the Chicago Tribune. The lawsuit points to alleged negligence by both companies with claims that the scaffolding was not "safely and properly erected," an assertion compounded by the decision to proceed with work despite the inclement weather.
At approximately 12:15 p.m last Thursday, amidst gusting winds, Spyrka and another worker, David O'Donnell, who was a 27-year-old technical engineer succumbed to injuries sustained in the fall, reportedly plunged about nine stories to the ground, per the Chicago Tribune; the lawsuit brought forth alleges that a section of the scaffold swung out due to a dislodged corner, resulting in the tragic incident. In the interim, Spyrka's family has been grappling with the aftermath of his "catastrophic and serious" injuries, a battle that has been met with a surge of public support via a GoFundMe campaign to aid with growing medical costs and related expenditures, which, as of Tuesday afternoon, had garnered almost $30,000.
According to a statement obtained by ABC7 Chicago, attorney Lou Cairo, representing the Spyrka family, criticized the companies involved by emphasizing the prioritization of "profit over safety" and highlighted how prior worker complaints about scaffold stability were ostensibly dismissed with promises of future action that never came to fruition. Cairo pointedly remarked, "This scaffold was not properly inspected, it was not properly constructed," blaming crucial structural deficiencies for the devastating outcome.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated an investigation into the event, focusing on the roles of both construction companies as well as New Horizon Steel, the employer of Spyrka, and High-Tech Stake-Out Inc., O'Donnell's employer, with the process expected to take up to six months, as detailed by the Chicago Tribune. Turner Construction has paused work at the Hyde Park site and is offering grief counseling to employees, signaling an awareness of the gravity of the situation, yet the full scope and conclusions of the ongoing investigations remain to be seen.
While statements from both Turner Construction and Adjustable Forms expressed their awareness of the suit and a commitment to support a thorough investigation, the emotional and physical toll of the accident on the Spyrka and O'Donnell families is immeasurable; as expressed by Cairo, "Heaven just doesn't have room for one more angel right now, because he, it's a miracle he's alive," underscoring the miraculous survival of Spyrka against harrowing odds, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. The path to recovery, however, will be a lengthy and arduous process for Spyrka and a somber journey for the family of O'Donnell.
