Construction Worker Falls 150 feet at Obama Center Project and Survives

When Frank Gomez went to work on January 22, 2025, he thought it would just be another day on a union construction project as a pipe coverer working for Local 17. He had no idea that he would encounter an unprotected ventilation duct that resulted in a catastrophic fall of over 150′.

The Obama Center project has multiple general contractors working as a joint venture under the name Lakeside Alliance Joint Ventures. Those contractors caused and permitted the pipe covers to go into a mechanical area to do their insulation work despite the fact that there were unprotected ventilation ducts penetrating the floor without protective covers, exposing them to falls which would inevitably result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. The HVAC contractor, Air Design System’s Inc., installed the ductwork, some of which went to the ceiling and some of which penetrated through the floor, but only extended about a foot off the concrete floor that Frank and his coworker were working on. The section of ductwork involved was approximately 36“ x 28“ in diameter and was only covered with blue vinyl plastic and a loosely laid down piece of plywood sitting on top of it. When Frank lost his footing and encounter the unsecured piece of plywood, he went right through the ventilation duct opening and fell 150 feet to the basement level of the building below. Fortunately, the lower portion of the deck had a soft 90° Curve like a huge slide, which prevented an immediate stop impact at the ground level. Nonetheless, Frank suffered injuries throughout his body including some which have necessitated multiple surgeries for his severely fractured right leg.

“These are the type of injuries that are so unbelievably preventable in construction if contractors would simply do what they are supposed to do. The HVAC contractor should have never left that room without properly covering the open ductwork consistent with the OSHA hole opening safety regulations and the general contractor should have never scheduled the insulation crews to be in an area prior to ensuring that the work area was safe and all openings were protected in accordance with OSHA and the contract requirements. This room had multiple unprotected penetrations and was a deathtrap for an innocent tradesman who was focused on performing his or her craft.” Stated investigating and handling partner of GWC, Louis A. Cairo.

This accident follows another recent, and very preventable, accident that occurred at the University of Chicago Medical Center in June, when two construction workers fell 140 feet, with one suffering fatal injuries and the other suffering debilitating and catastrophic physical injuries. The scaffold that they were working on was built by a different contractor and its assembly and operations were overseen by one of the nation’s largest general contractors, Turner Construction Company. Turner was, ironically, one of the joint venturing general contractors in the Obama Center job as well. “The importance of Construction safety compliance by contractors cannot be overstated. “Every construction worker should be able to earn a living and return home to his/her family at the end of every workday.” Stated by attorney, Larry Amato of GWC who is also representing the Gomez family. At GWC, we dedicate our practice to representing construction workers injured and killed as a result of the negligence of contractors that are paid big money to, among other things, ensure that the workplace is safe. When they fail to do their jobs, innocent working people are severely injured or killed;” stated Louis A. Cairo.

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