HOUSTON—The Houston Fire Department says eight workers were taken to hospitals after they were injured when part of the roof of a building under construction collapsed.
Firefighters responded to the roof collapse on Monday morning, July 29, at a hotel under construction north of downtown Houston.
Video from local TV stations showed firefighters using a ladder from a truck to bring down some injured workers on stretchers.
Officials within the Houston Fire Department said that construction workers were pouring concrete when part of the floor collapsed.
The HFD said on Twitter that the 8 construction workers with injuries have been transported to Ben Taub and St. Joseph.
HFD is transporting 8 construction workers from the 3400 block of N Main after the building’s roof collapsed. The workers are being transported to Ben Taub and St. Joseph. @FireChiefofHFD pic.twitter.com/Us1xda0kNS
— Houston Fire Dept (@HoustonFire) July 29, 2019
An investigation was done after the incident. A spokesperson with the Houston Public Works has found the shoring to be “inadequate.”
“That means whatever temporary support system was in place while workers poured the concrete may not have been working properly and resulted in the collapse,” ABC 13 reported.
13 Investigates: Houston Public Works tells us a senior inspector with the city believes shoring was “inadequate” during this morning’s partial roof collapse https://t.co/Uzo9wH5F27 via @abc13houston
— Ted Oberg (@TedABC13) July 29, 2019
Several workers fell to the sixth floor below, Assistant Chief Isaac Garcia told the Houston Chronicle.
The injuries to workers who were taken to hospitals included cuts and broken bones.
Officials said other workers were also injured but were treated at the scene and released.
The building was inspected several times in the past and received a building permit in August 2017.
The Associated Press and NTD staff contributed to this report.
