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:
Pedestrian Killed by Falling Plywood from Construction Site
A 37-year-old woman was killed recently after she was struck by a piece of plywood that was ripped loose from a nearby construction site in Greenwich Village by high winds. The 4-by-8 piece of plywood hit the woman as she was walking home along east West 12th Street, slamming her into a brick wall and causing severe head injuries, bruising, and lacerations. She was pronounced dead shortly after the incident at Bellevue Hospital.
According to a New York Post report, at the time of the incident, the winds were reaching speeds of up to 45 mph. The plywood was torn from along a security fence surrounding the construction site of a luxury apartment building just across the street and sailed nearly 50 feet before hitting the woman.
Worker Killed in Construction of Barclays Center Green Roof
An iron worker was killed recently when huge steel beams slipped and fell as they were being lifted to the roof of the Barclays Center from the back of a truck. The 52-year-old was a subcontractor working with the crew constructing a vegetative green roof for the Brooklyn arena.
According to another construction worker on the site, the truck driver allegedly unhooked the top heavy load of heavy beams without direction when four of the beams fell on the iron worker. The man was taken to the Brooklyn Hospital where he was pronounced dead.