Further Examination of the East Chicago, Indiana, Highway Ramp Collapse Could Help Prevent Similar Accidents

摘要

The April 1982 collapse of a highway ramp under construction in Indiana killed 13 workers and injured 17. The ramp is part of a highway construction project receiving 90 percent Federal funding. Several Federal, State, local, and private agencies are investigating the accident. The National Bureau of Standards, assisted by the Federal Highway Administration, is investigating the technical cause of the collapse for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Federal action to begin the technical investigation was prompt, and the Bureau appears well qualified to determine the cause. GAO, however, is concerned that Federal and State agencies were not examining and had no plans to examine systemic aspects, such as Federal and State construction monitoring and inspection. GAO is recommending that this be done. GAO is also recommending that the Congress, in considering the need to grant authority to an existing Federal agency to direct and coordinate investigations, provide that such authority enable the agency to conduct independent investigations of both the technical and systemic aspects of accidents involving Federal and federally assisted construction projects.