OSHA Investigates Kravis Construction Accident

It could have been so much worse. That's the assessment of a veteran firefighter responding to a scaffolding collapse Friday afternoon at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in downtown West Palm Beach. Two construction workers escaped with minor injuries. OSHA is investigating.

Workers were in the process of repairing the Kravis Center façade, which sustained water damage during Hurricane Francis in 2004. A Kravis Center spokesman says a battle with insurance companies delayed the start of the work until recently.

Now the work has come to a halt. West Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Captain Walter Barndt said seven levels of scaffolding came tumbling down around 1:00. 15 to 24 workers were on or near the structure.

Capt. Barndt said, "Talking to the people when we first got up there, they dodged a bullet and were running out of there as the scaffolding was coming down. We averted dozens of injuries." Barndt said it appeared the anchors attaching the scaffolding to the wall, gave way.

"We're still trying to investigate and find out exactly what happened," said Dennis Gallagher, president of Weitz Construction, the general contractor on the job. "The good news is that no one got seriously hurt and we're happy about that for sure."

"I mean we feel really fortunate," concurred Brian Bixler, spokesman for the Kravis Center. "It really could have been worse."

Bixler said the opera performance scheduled for Friday night would go on as planned. He said patrons parking in the Center's garage would be directed around the accident site, on their way into Dreyfoos Hall, the Center's main performance venue.