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.
According to New York’s Buildings Department, the number of construction accidents has gone up 24 percent between 2013 and 2014. In 2015 alone, eight workers have already lost their lives, matching the number of deaths that occurred in the previous year.
One of the main explanations among those in the industry is that there are simply more construction projects occurring throughout the city. More new building permits are being issued by the city than ever before, which requires more labor. Many new, nonunion workers are brought in to handle the number of projects; however, many of these workers do not have the experience or training to perform the second-most-dangerous jobs in the U.S.
A recent OSHA report revealed that the number of work-safety violations in the construction industry is on the rise, putting workers and others around construction sites at risk of preventable injury or death.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a construction site accident, you can receive protection from a personal injury attorney at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP. Our experienced legal team has the experience and knowledge to help obtain the workers’ compensation you need.