2 Hospitalized after High Winds Blow Workers Down Elevator Shaft

OSHA’s area director in Billings, said the incident is currently under investigation. The construction company evacuated the site and it will remain closed through Wednesday, according to KULR8. Hazen said OSHA is working to figure out whether or not the men had fall protection gear on. According to OSHA, construction workers are required to wear protective gear if they are above six feet off the ground.

At the time of the fall, the National Weather Service recorded wind gusts up to 39 miles per hour.

The Billings Fire Department says two construction workers were injured early Wednesday afternoon after a wind gust blew them off an area where they were working.

Billings Fire Assistant Chief Bill Rash said the workers were putting up rafters at the Comfort Suites on Southgate Drive when a gust of wind caused one of the workers to fall 40 feet down an elevator shaft. Rash said the other worker fell 15 feet to a decking. He said both workers were taken to area hospitals. There is no word on the extent of their injuries at this time.

Battalion chief: 2 construction workers caught gust of wind on roof and fell. One went 40 ft down elevator shaft pic.twitter.com/de6R4cPwdO

— Leah Jordan (@leahjordanmedia) April 13, 2016