Labor Union Leader Calls Construction Worker Death at Bellagio Fountains a ‘Freak Accident’

LAS VEGAS – The death of a construction worker at the Bellagio fountains over the weekend has been called a “freak accident” by a labor union leader.

Tommy White, secretary/treasurer of Laborer’s International Union of North America Local 872, said he’s been told by workers at the site that an issue with a “quickie saw” Saturday led to the accident that killed 37-year-old Tizoc Antonio of Las Vegas.

“It wasn’t a safety issue, all the safety protocol was in place, it’s just that the blade bound up on the quickie saw and it ran up on the (steel) column and the saw kicked back at him,” White said. “I’ve seen those saws kick back … the last place you want to be is in the way of that saw kicking backwards.”

White noted that there are no members of his union working directly for Carma at the site, but some members have worked for them as sub-contractors.

“All my subs (subcontractors) say that they’re (Carma) a good general contractor,” White said. “I don’t think an issue like this could’ve been prevented. It wasn’t fall protection, it wasn’t anything that could’ve been put up to stop it from happening. It’s a shame and our hearts go out to the family.”

Crews are constructing temporary spectator grandstands at the Bellagio for November’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened inspections with both Carma Group, the general contractor on the project, and Standard Steel, the employer of the worker who died.

Credits: Review Journal