Man falls from two stories of <b>scaffolding</b> | SeacoastOnline.com

PORTSMOUTH — A bricklayer who fell two stories and was covered by fallen bricks at a Bow Street construction site is home without a broken bone or permanent injury.

Just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, police and fire crews were dispatched to the Martingale Wharf, a historic building at 99 Bow St., which is currently under construction.

"Something gave way or fell," said Fire Capt. Bernie Marvin, explaining that the worker fell from one scaffolding, through a second one, then to the ground. A pan of mortar, scaffolding materials and a pile of bricks fell on top of him.

The worker landed on a set of stairs and it took responders about 15 minutes to free him from the debris, Marvin said.

"He was in a fair amount of pain," Marvin said about the injured bricklayer he described as 37 years old and from Milford.

Traffic was closed in the area for about a half-hour while rescue personnel stabilized and removed the worker, who fell into an alley on the left side of the Martingale building. He was extricated at about 8:20 a.m. and was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with "non-life-threatening injuries," said Marvin.

Workers on scene said they knew nothing about the cause of the fall and expressed concern for their co-worker.

The fire inspector was called to the scene and police were assigned to stand by for about two hours while a representative from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the work site.

Developers Butch and John Ricci have been working on the building as a part of a two-year demolition and construction project expected to include 52,000 square feet of mixed-use space on six floors overlooking the Piscataqua River.

The Riccis are working with contractor Mark McNabb, who said late Tuesday that the worker broke no bones, was released from the hospital and was resting at home. McNabb said he learned from hospital medical staff that the bricklayer will be sore for a few days, but did not receive any permanent injury, likely because he "is a young strong man."

According to OSHA's Web site, "Falls are the most frequent cause of fatalities at construction sites and annually account for one of every three construction-related deaths."

OSHA reports 2007 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics noting that 442 construction workers died that year as a result of falling on the job.

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