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Construction Resumes At New 49ers Stadium Following Worker's Death

SANTA CLARA (KCBS) -- Work resumed on the San Francisco 49ers new stadium in Santa Clara Thursday morning after a worker was killed there on Tuesday.

63-year-old Donald White, an employee of Schindler Elevator, died when he was struck by elevator counterweights in an elevator shaft where he was working. Work on the project was halted after the accident.

After a moment of silence for White Thursday morning, workers were given stickers bearing White's initials and an American flag to attach to their hardhats. Buckets with photos of White attached to them were passed around to collect cash for White's grieving loved ones, said Jonathan Harvey, stadium project co-director for general contractor Turner-Devcon.

Harvey told KCBS they met with all 1,200 construction workers Thursday morning to discuss safety before re-starting the job.

Harvey said it was still too early to know how the schedule would be affected.

"We haven't really thought of that to be honest. We are grieving ourselves. This is a tragedy and we will address the schedule and the implications of that in the next hours or days," he said.

Harvey said the 49ers, the city of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority have come up with a plan to plant a tree and install a plaque in White's honor in the stadium's west plaza.

Construction Resumes At New 49ers Stadium Following Worker's Death

Donald White
Donald White (White Family/San Jose Mercury News)

In addition, the 49ers are looking into placing White's name on a memorial brick somewhere at the stadium, project co-director Robert Rayborn said.

White's union, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 8, is setting up a memorial fund for him, Rayborn said.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Santa Clara police and the contractor are all conducting investigations into accident.

Cal-OSHA has six months to complete its report.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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