A construction worker died Friday after falling about 100 feet down an elevator shaft at Optima Towers, a project that straddles the boundary between Broward and Miami-Dade counties, a fire official said.
The accident happened about 9:40 a.m. The Optima project is at 1010 S. Federal Highway, in both Hallandale Beach and Aventura.
“The worker fell approximately 10 stories,” Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue Division Chief Lori Williams said.
The development is on the west side of Federal Highway, opposite The Village at Gulfstream Park.
Technical rescue teams from the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Hollywood Fire Rescue were working to recover the man’s body, Williams said. There was not yet an elevator in the shaft where the accident happened, she said.
Jesus Vazquez is chief operating officer for NV2A Group, the construction manager of the project, and said the man who died worked for a subcontractor.
Vazquez did not name that company or identify the worker, and said NV2A was cooperating with the investigation.
Vazquez said in an email, “At this time we don’t understand what happened. The worker involved was highly skilled and experienced. According to the supervisors on site, there was no work scheduled for the elevator shaft today.”
The construction manager’s safety director is based at the job site, and there are regular safety training exercises held there, according to Vazquez.
“In fact, we had a comprehensive refresher training for all our staff and subcontractors specifically on fall protection and prevention just one month ago,” Vazquez said. “We are truly heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our deepest condolences to this family.”
Hallandale Beach police and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration as well as the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office were notified of the accident, Williams said.
Developer Ariel Bromberg expected to complete construction by the end of this year, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel last year.
“We are in close contact with our construction manager about this tragedy. We are not commenting further at this time, except to send our heartfelt condolences to the family.” a spokesman for Bromberg said.
The building under construction is part of a multi-tower office complex begun in 2013 in Aventura.
ljtrischitta@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta
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The Optima Towers will be in Hallandale and Aventura, linked by a parking garage