KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasMGM-Mirage Cites Human Error in Construction Worker's Death at CityCenter
Eyewitness News has learned the victim of Thursday's deadly accident at the MGM-Mirage CityCenter project was 65-year-old Harvey Englander. His widow says he was close to retiring. Meanwhile, she waits for information about how he died.
MGM-Mirage representatives say it was human error. However, one Perini construction worker who knew the victim told Eyewitness News safety is not the top priority.
It was back to work Friday for thousands of CityCenter project construction workers who just lost one of their own.
Officials say Englander never turned off this manlift while he was greasing it, but it was the counterweight system that came down on top of him.
One worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, works on the same building and was the victim's friend. "It hits home. It hits home real bad. I've gotta live with it, deal with it and go back today and do it again," he said.
But through his grief there lies anger. He says most accidents on job sites could be prevented if safety is a priority.
"Every contractor in the world is supposed to send us home with ten fingers and ten toes. That's it. That's the bottom line," he continued.
But this worker feels safety has taken a back seat in Las Vegas because of pressure to get these buildings up quickly.
He described, "When you get out in the field it's just go, go, go, go, go, and just do and hope for the best."
In February, two workers were killed on the CityCenter project after retaining walls fell on top of them.
MGM-Mirage claims the CityCenter construction site is still a very safe site. But the worker who spoke to Eyewitness News sees it differently and says more training is needed.
"Safety personnel should be able to get up on top instead of ride around in little carts and look up 250 feet," he added.
This worker feels the stricter you are on safety, the better chance you have of coming home at night.
Federal investigators from OSHA, as well as other safety directors, say they continuously check on the sites. They say safety is their first priority.
Meanwhile, Eyewitness News tried contacting the Perini building company several times Friday for comment. The calls were not returned.
