A man was injured in a work accident after becoming pinned in a Pennsylvania parking garage on May 16. The man was working on a renovation project in a parking garage when the floor collapsed, wedging the construction vehicle he was in between the first floor and the basement. The worker was transported to the Excela Health Latrobe Hospital and then UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh after the work accident occurred.

There is no word on the severity of his injuries, but authorities said the man was able to move his arms and legs while leaving the scene by ambulance. The worker had been operating a skid loader when the vehicle fell through the floor. It took approximately 20 minutes and quite a few emergency responders, firefighters and construction workers to extract the man from the car. A paramedic was able to provide first aid to the man after a rear window was taken out of the skid loader.

The man works for a subcontractor who is assisting with the renovation project. OSHA in Pittsburgh is investigating the accident but had no further details. This is not the first time an accident like this has occurred at the scene of the renovation project. In 2010, work was shut down because a concrete slab fell.

Hopefully the man’s injuries were not severe enough to be life-threatening. He will likely have a recovery period and potentially lose time on the job due to this work accident. Fortunately, the man may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation to help him with medical expenses and lost income as he recovers enough to be able to go back to work.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Worker pinned in Latrobe parking garage,” Joe Napsha, May 16, 2012