A construction accident at Hornell Junior-Senior High School left a worker seriously injured Monday, prompting an ongoing federal safety investigation.
District officials say the incident happened April 27 inside the school’s gymnasium, where a contracted ironworker was assembling bar joists when the structure tipped over and fell onto him.
Superintendent Jeremy Palotti said nearby workers and the school nurse responded immediately, providing assistance until emergency crews arrived. The injured worker was transported by ambulance before being airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Palotti said the worker is now in stable condition after undergoing back surgery and is continuing to recover. Doctors are cautiously optimistic he will not suffer permanent spinal cord damage, though his long-term prognosis remains uncertain.
The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the incident. Federal officials have up to six months to complete the review and said no additional details will be released during that time.
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