Local

4 hurt in Union County construction accident, officials say

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Four construction workers are recovering after they fell about 20 feet Thursday while framing a roof at an equestrian center in Union County, while the company they were working for could face some tough questions from federal safety inspectors.

The four men were working for Trent Builders trying to put a truss into place for a roof over a pavilion at the Providence Equestrian Center when the truss fell.

“The truss was apparently not set firmly in place and fell to the ground, causing injuries to these four construction workers,” Union County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Underwood said.

All four workers were taken to local hospitals and are expected to recover.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors were investigating the accident Thursday afternoon and Eyewitness News learned that OSHA had fined Trent Builders twice before for similar safety violations.

In 2013 and 2015, OSHA cited the company for failing to protect workers against falls and fined them $5,600.

An employee of Trent Builders told Eyewitness News that those violations were for residential construction and would not have applied in Thursday’s accident.

OSHA has yet to comment on the case or say if the company will face more fines.