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Last updated: 12:18 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2008
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- New York Racing Association workers were raising the roof of a barn at the Oklahoma Training Track this morning when the entire barn collapsed.
Saratoga facilities manager Charlie Wheeler said, in a statement, that the weight of the structure shifted, causing the barn to fall onto its side.
One worker, whose identity has not yet been released by authorities, was trapped until rescuers were able to free him from the wreckage. He was put in a back brace, placed on a stretcher and taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center Hospital to treat a broken arm. The other five carpenters suffered minor scrapes and were treated at the scene.
Due to the renovations, no horses or other people were in the barn at the time of the collapse.
Wheeler said that this is the seventh such barn renovation these workers have undertaken in the past year.
The damaged barn is located in the Horse Haven section of the training track. Trainer Gary Contessa had been assigned to the bar, which will be rebuilt in six to eight weeks, officials said. The 100-year-old barn contained 10 stalls and measured 120 feet by 25 feet.
The training track is across Union Avenue from the race course.
Workers and security move about around the collapsed barn at the Oklahoma Race Track in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, May 1, 2008. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)
Original story:
http://www.timesunion.com/
Question or two
As a former gambling man, why did this track wait so long to fix this barn or have more than one worker present?
Who is at fault here and how could this kind of thing be prevented in the future?
Whether the worker was union or not, which I am guessing he wasn't, was he trained enough to do the work that was doing -- or was the barn simply going to collapse today no matter what?
This is the kind of stuff that I wish was covered in the story. If anyone knows the answers, please let me know ... just curious.
In the meantime, my heart and prayers go out to the brother injured on the job ... Let's remeber this guy while we work to work safe tomorrow.
Union Yes !
Richard, Just to Let You Know !
All Carpenters Working on this Barn,
Were Members of Carpenters Local 370 Albany, NY
I Do Know Atleast One of The Workers Injured ...
P.S. How Ya Been, Keep in Touch !!!
Charles Lezette
Carpenters Local 370
Albany, NY
Regardless,
that these guys are 370, sure does suck to hear news like this, though it is important. It seems like construction trades people are getting hurt or killed at epidemic proportions on the job these days; this stuff knocks me out.
I wish you were in DC. Joe638 and I are on a panel today to help workers get active online. We will be with UnionGal and Tula from the AFL-CIO. You can check out some information on what it is about here.