COLUMBIA — A new federal report says a fatal scaffolding collapse at a Columbia school construction site last year was caused by equipment failure.
The collapse on Nov. 10 killed Alan Hildebrand, a 53-year-old bricklayer, who was working on the walls for a school gym at the Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School.
A report filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said two parts of the scaffolding failed within 1 to 1½ seconds.
The Columbia Tribune reports that accident investigators did not place blame on any party in the collapse, saying it was a typical wear-and-tear failure.
Hildebrand's relatives have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging the scaffolding was defective.