nothin Construction Worker Clings To Life | New Haven Independent

Construction Worker Clings To Life

(Updated) When Rob Enfield opened his eyes for the first time after a deadly construction site crash, he saw his mother. He thought he was back in Arizona.

Enfield wasn’t in Arizona. He was lying at Yale-New Haven Hospital, recovering from an accident Monday, when a steel beam collapsed at a building under construction at Science Park.

Four workers, members of the Ironworkers International union working for a subcontractor called Fast Trek Steel, Inc., were injured in the crash.

Robert Bobby” Adrian did not survive. Adrian worked as a boomer,” meaning he was called in from out-of-state to help with the job, according to Frank Migliaccio, executive director of safety and health for the Ironworkers International.

Adrian (pictured), who was 44, was a lifelong resident of Coxsackie, N.Y., a town outside Albany on the Hudson River. He began his career with the Ironworkers at age 16, following in his father’s footsteps, according to an online obituary. His funeral is scheduled for Monday in his hometown.

Adrian was a longtime employee of Fast Trek Steel, according to the obituary. The company couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.

Around 10 a.m. Monday, Adrian was pinned to the ground under the fallen beam, which crushed his body from his hips down to his knees. Firefighters freed his body in 10 minutes. Adrian was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he died later that day.

Two of the injured workers were based in New Haven. One was severely injured.” His name has not been released. The other, a female apprentice, emerged from the accident a little bruised,” and very shaken up,” Migliaccio said.

Enfield was less fortunate. On Wednesday, he remained at Yale-New Haven Hospital in critical” condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Two hundred miles away, an anxious community awaited word on their beloved neighbor, winemaker, Broncos fan and amateur chef.

This whole thing is very, very tragic,” said his friend Dana Harris. Everyone here is very concerned for him.”

Harris lives four doors down from Enfield’s home in Liverpool, N.Y., a suburb of Syracuse. Through the union, Enfield landed a job as a boomer” on the New Haven site. He would commute to New Haven every week. Originally from Arizona, Enfield has now settled down in Liverpool with his wife, Shellie. He has worked as a foreman for Fast Trek Steel for at least 10 years, Harries said.

Now Shellie Enfield has been commuting to New Haven, too. She has stood by his side as he goes through a series of surgeries. Enfield’s mom flew up from Arizona to be there Tuesday, as Enfield underwent surgery.

He opened his eyes yesterday” for the first time since the accident, Harris said. He was surprised to find his mother there. He thought he was in Arizona.”

Enfield will stay at Yale-New Haven for another five weeks while he goes through more surgeries, Harris said. Then he’ll be transported to Liverpool, where it will take him at least a year to recuperate.

Meanwhile, dozens and dozens and dozens of people” are waiting for updates on Enfield’s condition, according to Harris.

Enfield is known as a diehard Denver Broncos fan — he has one room in his house dedicated to the team — and as an amateur chef and vintner. Enfield has 60 bottles of wine aging in the basement.

He makes a really good wine,” Harris said — chardonnay, Cabernet, and Sauvignon blanc.

On the weekends, smoke from Enfield’s barbecue drifts down the street.

He is a fantastic cook,” Harris said. He’s always inviting friends over to eat, offering barbecue and smoked meats.

Harris said the sudden accident has left family and friends searching for clues to what happened. Enfield doesn’t generally climb the steel, so they wonder if he might have been helping someone else. An eyewitness reported seeing a man fall 30 feet; authorities could not confirm that report. Little official information has come out about the crash. The Bridgeport office of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the accident.

Migliaccio said he is still waiting for accident reports from two union locals that were involved.

Any time we lose a member, we’re concerned,” Migliaccio said.

Connecticut’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating, but those reports typically take six months to complete.

Due to privacy rules, hospital officials did not specify the nature of Enfield’s injuries, or the name of the other worker who was severely hurt. Enfield’s immediate family couldn’t be reached for comment.

He is expected to survive,” Harris said. He is going to make it — we’re really thankful for that.”

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