New York City Provides Month by Month Overview of Construction Site Accidents
New York City’s Buildings Department provides detailed monthly reports available at its website for interested residents and construction site accident lawyers concerned about the rate of serious injuries and deaths on the city’s many buildings projects. The information available includes statistics drawn from the construction-related accident reports filed each month with the city.
Federal Wage and Hour Violations Increase in Recent Years According to Department of Labor
The number of federal wage and hour violations, as well as the amount of back wages being unfairly withheld, has increased over the past several years, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL). Since wage and hour disputes are among the most common types of labor disputes, experienced New York construction union attorneys keep a close eye on these numbers as a way to track whether enforcement and education efforts are working.
According to the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) statistics on enforcement, in 2009, employers found guilty of wage and hour violations paid back wages of over $172 million. In 2010, that number jumped to $176 million, and by 2014, employers were paying over $240 million in back wages to over 270,000 employees.
Construction Site Safety a Major Focus for OSHA in Recent Years
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has begun compiling statistics on the most common accidents and injuries that occur on construction sites nationwide. Private construction sites accounted for 828 of the 4,585 workplace deaths suffered in the U.S. in 2013, according to OSHA. This means that construction sites were the location for one in every five worker deaths.
Just four accident categories account for more than half of construction worker deaths. OSHA calls these the “Fatal Four” and says that if these four causes were eliminated, workplaces would save the lives of nearly 500 workers every year.
Why Are Fatal Construction Accidents on the Rise in NY?
As reported by the New York Times, there has been a notable rise in the number of construction-related accidents, injuries, and deaths occurring throughout NYC. From workers falling through faulty scaffolding to floors collapsing during routine demolition, there are plenty of serious dangers that NY construction workers must contend with on a daily basis.
However, a recent incident, in which a 12-ton heating and air-conditioning unit plummeted 30 stories from a crane to Madison Avenue, illustrates the growing problem perfectly. Construction accidents are a real danger that should not be ignored.
Increase in Construction Accident Deaths Prompts Unions to Step Up
The recent New York City Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) report “The Price of Life: 2015 Report on Construction Fatalities in NYC” brought to light some alarming statistics on workplace safety for the city’s many construction workers. It also specifically highlighted the role that unions play in making construction workplaces safer.
The report tracked OSHA violation reports for both union and non-union sites. It found that of the 31 construction sites listed on OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) list, 28 of them were not unionized. Twenty-three of the 28 non-union sites made the list with two or more “willful or repeated” violations of safety regulations in a single inspection. One non-union site, the report noted, racked up “an extraordinary 41 violations.”
New Report Sheds Sobering Light on Construction Accident Deaths in New York
A new report, “The Price of Life: 2015 Report on Construction Fatalities in NYC,” was released last week. Intended as an update to the New York Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) 2014 report “It’s No Accident,” the report provides a sobering view of the state of construction accidents and construction workplace safety in New York City.
Here are just a few of the highlights from the recent report:
Top Traits to Look for in a New York Construction Union Attorney
Unions are built on the collective interests of their workers. For construction workers in New York, these interests often include receiving a fair and legal wage, having access to appropriate safety equipment, and ensuring that the terms of the union’s agreement with their employer are enforced.
While collective bargaining, grievances, and even picketing can go a long way toward enforcing a labor union’s right to fair and legal terms, some disputes need the experienced eye of an attorney who understands the complex nature of union agreements and construction labor laws. Here are some traits to look for in a construction labor union lawyer:
Four Injured in Midtown Manhattan Construction Accident
Four construction workers were injured in a recent accident in a Madison Avenue work site recently, according to a report by AM New York.
The workers were taking down the chandelier that hung above the first-floor entrance as part of a demolition project at the construction site. They were using a marble banister on the mezzanine level as leverage when the banister gave way, causing the workers to fall about 15 feet. The chandelier fell on top of the four workers, according to the city’s Department of Buildings.
What Is New York’s Scaffold Law?
Every day, construction workers put their lives at risk in one of the most notoriously dangerous industries in the country. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), one in five worker fatalities in 2013 were construction workers and the majority of the fatal accidents involved falls.
Under New York Labor Law § 240, also known as the Scaffold Law, project owners and general contractors bear responsibility for providing necessary safety equipment to protect workers from falling or having objects fall on them. When a worker is injured in a slip, trip, or fall accident, regardless of fault, the project owner and general contractor may be held liable for the resulting damages. Ideally, by placing liability on the project owners and construction companies, workers are ensured a safer environment. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Tips for Choosing a Construction Labor Union Attorney
Workers in construction labor unions enjoy many benefits of union membership. The laws that govern New York construction labor unions are complex, and when a problem arises, it is vital to have an experienced New York labor union lawyer on your side to ensure that your rights are respected and the rules that protect you are upheld.
If you’re facing a potential employment or labor issue, you need to choose a skilled attorney with whom you can work to sort out the facts and pursue the best possible outcome. Here are some tips for finding the right law firm for you: