Milwaukee construction worker dies in fall

Published: January 11, 2010
Tags: construction worker, death, elevator shaft, Heavy Urban Rescue Team, Jackson Square LLC, Jackson Street, Otis Elevator Co., Schwartz, Third Ward, Wynn, Zortman

The construction site at 159 N. Jackson St. in Milwaukee was the scene of a deadly accident Monday after a worker fell from the scaffolding to his death. (Photo by Sean Ryan)

By Sean Ryan

A man died Monday morning after falling 30 feet from the top of an elevator shaft on a construction site in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.

The man was clearing snow from the top of the shaft above the roof of the under-construction Jackson Square apartment project at 159 N. Jackson St., said Tiffany Wynn, Milwaukee Fire Department spokeswoman.

Milwaukee Police Department and Fire Department officials did not release the man’s name or employer before deadline Monday.

According to an e-mail attributed to Anne Schwartz, Police Department spokeswoman, the man was 46 years old.

“He was pronounced at the scene,” according to the e-mail. “This does not appear to be a criminal matter at this time.”

Wynn said she could not say if the man was wearing a safety harness. He reportedly was on the top of the elevator shaft when he fell, she said, and not on the scaffolding that encircles the shaft.

The Milwaukee Fire Department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team, Wynn said, arrived at the scene about one minute after an incident call at 10:37 a.m. Monday. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector arrived on the scene at about 12:45 p.m. Chris Zortman, assistant area director of the Milwaukee OSHA office, said OSHA is investigating the incident.

The $5.6 million multifamily Jackson Square housing project is owned by Jackson Square LLC, Milwaukee, and will have 81 housing units, according to the Milwaukee building permit for the project.

Jackson Square representatives did not return a call seeking comment on the accident.

Otis Elevator Co., Milwaukee, pulled a building permit for the elevator work Jan. 5. James Merten, Otis maintenance supervisor, said the worker was not an employee of Otis Elevator.