Continue to Site »
Site will load in 15 seconds

Construction Worker Killed by Falling Highway Beam

A 187-foot-long, 45-ton steel overpass beam being removed as part of a highway widening project fell killing one worker and injuring three others

Apr 5, 2016

While a 187-foot-long, 45-ton steel overpass beam was being removed earlier this week, the beam fell between two lanes of Interstate 90 in Des lines, IL, killing a construction worker and injuring three others. The incident occurred earlier Tuesday morning, and while Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating the accident, it was unknown at the time what caused the beam to fall.

(more on the overpass beam accident...)

Latest in Construction Safety
Sshoults Adobe Stock 208720702
Concrete Crews Need More Than Cushioned Work Boots
September 12, 2026
Ergodyne Safety Glasses
Ergodyne Adds Photochromic Lenses to Safety Glasses
September 11, 2026
Brass Knuckle Smart Cut Sleeve 1
Brass Knuckle Adds SmartCut Sleeve for Arm Protection
September 9, 2026
Jamie Adobe Stock 444924941
Construction Safety Programs Expand Focus to Mental Health
September 8, 2026
Related Stories
Field-cured test cylinders should be cured in the same manner as the concrete they represent. The temperature-time history of the test cylinders should match the in-place concrete curing conditions. In this case, the field-cured test cylinders overestimated the in-place concrete strength because they were sitting adjacent to a jobsite heater..
Concrete Equipment & Products
How to Estimate In-place Strength of Concrete
MCWP1 55a62e7a286fc
Rental
MCWPs: Safe Work in the Sky
When it came time to measure the placements against the F-min specification and render a certification for compliance, a Floor Levelness and Flatness firm used the F-min Profiler to measure the exact wheel path of the intended material handling equipment. This allowed for instant results ensuring accurate measurements and layout of spot grinding in out-of-tolerance areas.
Concrete Equipment & Products
Wide Bay Superflat VNA Concrete Floors
Hydronic heaters provide an even distribution of heat to the concrete. Here, a poly sheet covers a slab-on-grade. Hydronic heating tubes were placed on top of the poly and the entire system is being covered with insulated blankets.
Concrete Equipment & Products
How to Protect Concrete During Cold Weather Pours
More in Construction Safety
Boots & Footwear
Concrete Crews Need More Than Cushioned Work Boots
The Foot Facts
Boot construction, footbed support and rotation can affect work boot durability and comfort on concrete jobsites. See what contractors should prioritize.
Sshoults Adobe Stock 208720702
Glasses
Ergodyne Adds Photochromic Lenses to Safety Glasses
Ergodyne Corp.
New light-adaptive safety glasses automatically adjust tint as workers move between indoor and outdoor environments, helping maintain eye protection.
Ergodyne Safety Glasses
Injury & Risk Prevention
Brass Knuckle Adds SmartCut Sleeve for Arm Protection
Brass Knuckle Safety Products
The cut-resistant sleeve extends protection from the wrist to the forearm for construction and industrial tasks involving sharp or abrasive materials.
Brass Knuckle Smart Cut Sleeve 1
Labor & Workforce Development
Construction Safety Programs Expand Focus to Mental Health
Traffic Plan
Mental health is a critical part of construction safety. Practical steps can help supervisors and safety leaders support workers, connect them with resources and prevent suicide.
Jamie Adobe Stock 444924941
Portable Lighting
Genie Expands Zone Lighting
Genie Lift
The laser-based system projects a visible boundary around vertical mast lifts to improve work-zone awareness in congested indoor construction environments.
Genie Lighting
Arrowboards
K&K Systems' Message Boards
K&K Systems
Full Matrix Mb
Arrowboards
K&K Systems
Safety Equipment - Other
Electricity #1 Cause of Safety Incidents With Powered Access Equipment in 2025
International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)
Analysis shows that electrocutions and electric shocks were the top cause of powered access fatal and major incidents in 2025.
Adobe Stock 465840709
Hard Hats & Headwear
KASK Adds Face Shields to ZENITH X2 FULL BRIM Helmet
KASK
Please shorten and lightly rewrite this as a web article for a construction industry audience in AP Style, excluding promotional language and including SEO headline and meta description:
Kask 1
Construction Safety Technology
Mike Doner
Mike Doner 1
Personal Protection Equipment
OSHA Silica Compliance: What Concrete Contractors Need to Know
WC Safety
Table 1 can simplify silica compliance, but specific tasks, work conditions and respirator requirements can quickly change what contractors need to do.
Rawf8 Adobe Stock 467954076
Weather Protection
Construction Heat Safety Requires Year-Round Preparation
Skanska Inc.
Extended heat exposure creates ongoing risks for construction workers. Stronger planning, acclimation, hydration, cooling and monitoring can help protect crews.
Surachai Adobe Stock 560733127
Page 1 of 445
Next Page