Stability of Structure in Fatal Fall Raised Firms' Earlier Concerns

Contracting team members that finished a $206-million upgrade of the Birmingham, Ala., airport last month had concerns during that construction about the stability of the flight information display that fell over and killed a 10-year-old boy on March 22, says an April 9 report by project construction manager Brasfield & Gorrie.

The unit's fabricator Fish Construction, Stafford, Texas, and installation subcontractor Monumental Contracting, and the CM discussed the concerns, says the report. Monumental did not complete the installation. Brasfield & Gorrie installed the unit into the concrete floor for added sturdiness but apparently did not receive direction for stability modifications from project designer KPS Group, according to the report. The unit was designed to be free-standing and positioned away from the wall.