Construction worker stable after fall at GM Ultium battery plant in Spring Hill
A construction worker is in stable condition and recovering after falling 12 feet from a rooftop Saturday at the Ultium Cells battery construction site at the General Motors plant in Spring Hill.
The worker was transported by Vanderbilt Life Flight to receive emergency care in Nashville.
At 5:54 a.m. Columbia Fire & Rescue arrived on scene at the Ultium Cells construction site off Highway 31, bordering northern Columbia and Spring Hill, to rescue a worker, who had fallen approximately 12 feet from the upper roofline to the lower roofline, according to Columba Fire public information officer Hannah Miller in a media release this week.
"The patient was extricated from the structure using Columbia Fire & Rescue’s 100-foot ladder truck and transported in critical condition by Vanderbilt Life Flight to definitive care," Miller said.
Investigation in progress
Brooke Waid of Ultium Cells LLC communications department said the worker is now stable and emphasized that safety is the company's highest priority. She also said Ultium Cells is conducting an investigation of the fall in partnership with the general contractor.
"Ultium Cells was informed about a construction contractor employee that sustained injuries at the site on Saturday. Site safety responded promptly to the incident and assisted local emergency response teams," Waid said.
"The individual is being treated at an area hospital where he is stable and recovering. Ultium Cells along with the site General Contractor – Barton Malow are conducting a detailed investigation of this incident. Workplace safety is our highest priority, and it remains our imperative that every employee, contractor or visitor to our plants arrive home safely. They are all a part of our Ultium Cells Family."
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, construction work is one of the top five most dangerous jobs with a fatal injury rate of 43.3 per 100,000 workers in the industry with higher numbers in the roofing industry, or 47 per 100,000 workers.
The $2 billion-plus facility has been under construction for over a year and will manufacture the electric car batteries used to power the new Cadillac Lyriq SUV by GM in partnership with South Korean-based LG Energy Solution which produces Ultium batteries.
Construction milestone celebrated
The automotive giant celebrated a milestone at the Ultium Cell Spring Hill site last week, surpassing its one millionth construction hour on the 2.8 million-square-foot facility.
Team members and construction partners gathered to recognize this historic milestone, occurring just over one year after construction began and without a lost-time incident, according to a media release Sept. 15.
“This dedicated team has prioritized safety, teamwork, and collaboration as they work diligently to hand over the building on time next year to a production team that is very appreciative of their hard work and dedication," said Ultium Cells Spring Hill Plant Director Chris Desautels about the milestone last week.
"As we continue to advance on-site, it is just as exciting to see our Ultium Cells workforce grow and begin to take shape.”
Process equipment installation will begin next month, with the facility on target to open late next year.
Once fully operational, the plant will create 1,300 new jobs.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Construction worker stable after fall at GM Ultium plant in Spring Hill
