Two Workers Hurt at Middle School Construction Site

Two workers were hurt on Tuesday morning at the Portsmouth Middle School construction site when a hydraulic scissors jack that was lifting drywall to the second floor collapsed.

Portsmouth Fire Capt. Richard Murphy said city firefighters rushed to the scene just after 11 a.m. and responded with a fire engine, a ladder truck and two Portsmouth Fire and Rescue ambulances from Station 1.

Murphy said both men were conscious and did not suffer any life threatening injuries. He said they were transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

Murphy said the two men were struck in the head by falling pieces of drywall after the hydraulic jack collapsed. He said the fire investigator and city building inspector remained at the scene to talk with Gilbane Construction officials and Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors were also on their way to the scene to investigate the accident.

The area where the accident happened remained cordoned off with yellow police tape on Tuesday afternoon. Murphy said the accident did not cause any disruptions for middle school students and staff, who are located in recently completed addition to the left of the former middle school project site.

Construction crews are in the process of renovating the old middle school so it can eventually be joined with the new addition that was completed last summer as part of the overall $40.8 million project.