OSHA investigates beam drop that injured construction worker in Madison

Listen to this article

An ironworker member who was seriously injured when a nearly 30,000-pound beam dropped at a Madison construction site is expected to recover. State safety officials are investigating how the beam fell around 50 feet at a busy construction site near Capitol Square.

On Jan. 31, a crane dropped a beam that fell 50 feet and crashed through multiple stories of the structure, carrying a worker with and causing serious injuries. Another worker was left stranded above.

Construction at the site briefly paused since as general contractor Findorff works with local authorities and safety officials, a company spokesperson said. The cause of the incident was not immediately determined.

On Friday, the company said it had support from stakeholders and authorities to resume some work. Some construction workers were seen working on the lower floors of the site.

“The outpouring of community support has been uplifting for those involved in Saturday’s incident. We are grateful that our employee is recovering well,” a Findorff spokesperson said.

“Our highest priority is the health and safety of our employees and everyone on our job sites, and we continue to work closely with local authorities and safety officials, including individuals from OSHA, to review the incident. With support from stakeholders and authorities, the site has been deemed safe and some work has resumed away from the incident location,” the spokesperson added.

The injured worker is recovering and will be released from the hospital shortly, said Darnell Reynolds, business manager of Iron Workers Local 383. The worker underwent more than eight hours of intensive surgery and suffered a broken arm and leg, according to a union newsletter.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the worker.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has opened an investigation that will take six months to complete.

Madison fire department crews were dispatched at 9:28 a.m. on Jan. 31 after the beam dropped. Members of the Heavy Urban Rescue Team worked with construction operators and equipment to rescue the injured worker and used a basket to rescue the stranded worker.

Findorff is working on the Wisconsin History Center, a 100,000-square-foot history museum for the Wisconsin Historical Society at the intersection of State Street and North Carroll Street. The project cost is $160.5 million.

Construction crews broke ground in April 2025. The museum is expected to be completed in 2027.