WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) issued the following statement today on the 28th anniversary of the of L’Ambiance Plaza collapse in Bridgeport that tragically killed 28 construction workers. 

“Today, we pay tribute to the twenty-eight workers who lost their lives in the 1987 L’Ambiance Plaza collapse in Bridgeport.  This tragedy highlighted the need for more comprehensive and preventative safeguards to be implemented at commercial and industrial sites in Connecticut and around the country.

“The L’Ambiance Plaza collapse was one of the worst disasters in Connecticut history and underscores the obligation employers have to ensure that their personnel are safe from harm’s way when working. Although this tragic event occurred twenty-eight years ago, we must remember that this effort continues today.  Brothers and sisters, know I keep this in my heart every day I go to work for the people of Connecticut.

“In that regard, I would like to commend the efforts of groups such as the Fairfield County Labor Council, the Fairfield County Building Trades, the Connecticut State Building Trades and the Connecticut AFL-CIO, all of which have advocated for safer construction sites and workplaces.  

“I offer my condolences to those killed in the L’Ambiance Plaza collapse and the families affected by this heartrending accident.  We owe it to the victims of this disaster to continue to promote and enact measures that make Connecticut’s workplaces safer and protect the good men and women of Connecticut’s workforce.”