Fronk sustained injuries on the Education Building roof while unthreading a sprinkler valve cap. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigator Kay Coffey informed Troy Fire Department personnel at the scene that "the cap from the pressurized pipe caused the injury during an explosive release of pressure" according to the Department’s incident report.

"It was a freak accident, there was some pressure building up as he was removing the cap and it blew off into his face, " said Russell Sage spokeswoman Martha Milcarek.

Troy Fire Department crews responded to the scene and transported Fronk, who was conscious and moving slightly, to Albany Medical Center.

As he was brought down off the roof "there was a red gash that stretched across the lower portion of his face. He looked like he was in pain. His face was mutilated more or less but the top half seemed to be okay," said Troy resident Mike Gisser.

OSHA is currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident and the conditions found at the construction site. John Canipy—Bast-Hatfield site leader—Bast-Hatfield’s safety director, and General Mechanical Systems representatives were on hand to answer Coffey’s questions. OSHA procedure dictates that an inspection including an opening conference, a site walkthrough, and a closing conference must be conducted before final sanctions are issued. Coffey was observed removing a J-shaped valve from the scene following the inspection.

Fronk is a 25-year-old employee of General Mechanical, which handles all heating, ventilation and air-conditioning for the Sage project. General Mechanical has been on site for three months and had two safety personnel at the scene.

Denis Bee, president of General Mechanical, said "We have had no accidents in the previous year and we have an excellent safety record." When asked, Bee refused to provide copies of OSHA 101 and OSHA 200 forms which detail General Mechanical’s safety record in the previous year.

Bast-Hatfield manages the Russell Sage construction on behalf of the college, with responsibilities including hiring of the 100 subcontractor workers currently on site and schedule management.

Although Mike Chopa, Bast-Hatfield site director, could not name the number of safety personnel on the project, he said that a significant number were on-site and that "safety is everyone’s responsibility."

Milcarek, counselor to the president of Russell Sage College as well as spokeswoman, said, "We are interested in the results of the [OSHA] investigation."

The construction schedule was not affected by the accident, partly because Fronk was in an isolated area. "We are greatly distressed by the accident. We have been accident-free during the previous year. The workers are doing heroic work to finish before classes open on September 9," said Milcarek.