MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Investigators are looking into what caused steel to fall 15 stories and hit two construction workers in Myrtle Beach Thursday morning.
The two workers were hit by rebar at around 11 a.m. at the construction site of Ocean Enclave hotel on North Ocean Boulevard.
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department says the rebar fell from the north side of the building, which is near a construction elevator shaft and faces Roxanne Towers. It did not fall from on the sidewalk of North Ocean Boulevard.
The city of Myrtle Beach says investigators from the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will look into what happened at the site. Landmark Builders is the contractor for the site of the Hilton Grand Vacations hotel.
A city spokesperson says the city would actually inspect a project like this almost every day. The building’s 11th floor passed a framing inspection Wednesday.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, city construction services director Chris Lee said the city follows part of the International Building Code, which protects the public and nearby properties. In the statement, however, he added, “The International Building Code does not address safety on the jobsite itself, as that is addressed by OSHA regulations.”
Here’s the full statement from Chris Lee:
“The investigation of all accidents occurring on construction sites is the responsibility of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly referred to as OSHA. All construction activities will be halted until OSHA has conducted and concluded its investigation. OSHA will be the authority that will ultimately release the scene and allow work to once again commence.
“The city does have a role in safeguarding the public and adjoining property during construction. These requirements are in chapter 33 of the International Building Code and cover such topics as covered pedestrian walkways, directional barricades to safely navigate around a construction site, erosion control measures, water runoff, portable fire extinguishers and a water source for fire-fighting activities.
“The city makes sure that the required safety measures are in place as code requires during the different phases of construction and are routinely inspected by the building department when we are making our compliance inspections on the permitted construction activities. The International Building Code does not address safety on the jobsite itself, as that is addressed by OSHA regulations.”
News 13 has reached out to an OSHA spokesperson, but has yet to hear back from OSHA.
News 13 also spoke to several construction workers Thursday. One worker said it was very windy in the morning while he worked on the 18th floor. He didn’t see the rebar fall, but did notice a large crowd of workers at the bottom of the elevator shaft.
The city says construction on the Ocean Enclave hotel will stop until the investigation is finished by OSHA.