Worker Suffers Broken Leg at Firehouse Construction Site

A worker helping to remove an old boiler at a construction site in West Caldwell was severely injured Wednesday when the boiler slipped and pinned his left leg, according to West Caldwell Police Chief Michael Bramhall.

Dushko Gjgorgiezski, 46, of Elmwood Park, was at the West Caldwell Firehouse construction project helping to move a boiler down a ramp on a pallet jack with the help of at least one other worker when the load became unstable and fell on him, Bramhall said.

Bramhall said the worker had been freed by the time police arrived.

The victim was transported by the West Essex First Aid Squad to Essex County Airport in Fairfield, where he was airlifted to University Hospital in Newark. Details were not available on his condition.

Gjgorgiezski is employed by East Coast Hazmat Removal of Paterson, a subcontractor hired to remove the old boiler from the basement of the firehouse on Fairfield Avenue. The boiler was said to contain asbestos and was wrapped in plastic. Bramhall estimated it weighs 2,000 pounds.

The incident comes after almost a week of picketing by members of  outside the firehouse. The Labor Union would like to negotiate with South Mountain Construction of West Orange, the contractor hired by the township for the project.

Local 1153 member Eddie Gutierrez of Nutley said he heard the victim screaming after the accident occurred. "He was hurt pretty bad," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez described the victim, saying he was not wearing work boots or other protective gear. "No work boots, no hard hat, no safety glasses, nothing to protect him," he said. "[Union workers] can't go on the job with shorts on. He had shorts on, too."

The accident occurred at approximately 8:23 a.m. Wednesday morning, slowing down traffic on Bloomfield Avenue due to rubbernecking.

As is common with construction accidents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been contacted to inspect the construction site.