The Industrial Commission of Arizona has levied a total of $13,000 in fines against three companies involved in a construction accident that occurred in June on the Bell Road overpass of Grand Avenue in Surprise.
Two workers suffered injuries when a 30-ton concrete girder collapsed in June. Both survived.
The companies fined are Coffman Specialties Inc., Encon Arizona, LLC, doing business as Tpac, and H.K.B., Inc., doing business as Southwest Industrial Rigging, minutes from the Oct. 20 Industrial Commission meeting show.
One company built a pad that went on the girder. The second company produced a plate for the girder to land on.
Investigators have concluded that when the third company hoisted the girder into place, inconsistencies in the pad and the plate caused the girder to roll, break into pieces and collapse, said Bob Charles, spokesman for the Industrial Commission.
A "perfect storm" of events led to the failure of a backup safety plan, Charles said.
“These girders are still supposed to be braced before they are released from the crane,” Charles said. “And that is where [investigators] say that it was kind of a failure on all parts of these three companies.”
All three companies have already appealed to an administrative law judge, Charles said. If that fails, they can appeal again the state occupational safety advisory board.
The accident delayed work on the overpass for about a month. Bell Road has been closed at Grand Avenue since spring.
State transportation officials have said they plan to reopen Bell Road on Nov. 22.
