How Employers Try to Avoid Scaffolding Rules (Labor Law 240)
New York has some of the most extensive scaffolding safety laws. Labor Law 240 was enacted in 1885, a period when state legislators had deep concerns about the safety of workers performing jobs at high elevations. During that era, there were many fatal worker falls – and in New York, these falls continue to plague the industry.
Safety Precautions for Bricklayers
Bricklayers have a specialized art, with their work enhancing buildings of all types. This job involves inherent risks, and bricklayers and masons are likely to suffer injuries and illnesses directly related to the work they perform. It is necessary to ensure that all safety precautions are in place on any worksite to reduce the risk of a serious or fatal accident.
Why Construction Workers Are Reluctant to Report Hazards and Injuries
Construction workers are in a difficult position when it comes to reporting an employer who has unsafe working conditions. The construction worker may be fearful of retaliation, losing employment, or be subject to peer pressure to keep quiet. Construction sites are dangerous at the best of times; when an employer is cutting corners and putting workers at risk, the dangers can be extreme. Failing to install all required barriers, provide safety equipment and tools in good working order, and ensure every worker on the site is protected as required by law can save money – but result in lost lives.
When Is an Independent Contractor on a Construction Site Actually an Employee?
Employees injured on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Companies are not required to provide workers’ comp insurance for independent contractors or self-employed construction workers. Under New York law, there are strict requirements for a worker to be classified as an independent contractor instead of an employee. In some cases, an “independent contractor” on a construction site may actually be an employee under the law.
Wheelbarrow, Hand Truck, and Other Hand-Propelled Vehicle Injuries
Wheelbarrows, hand trucks, and four-wheel dollies are used on construction sites and for other jobs.
- A wheelbarrow is a small cart with two supporting legs, two handles at the rear, and a single wheel at the front. It is used for carrying loads in construction and other industries.
- A hand truck is a two-wheeled cart with long handles, used for moving heavy objects by hand. It consists of a vertical framework with a metal blade at the bottom and handles at the top.
- A four-wheel dolly is a platform with two axles and four wheels. It is used to transport heavy items from one location to another. Dollies are available in varied sizes and designs.
OSHA’s 6-Foot Rule: Mandatory Protection
The “6-foot” rule is a general rule of thumb in the construction industry. Basically, it requires that fall protection be provided when work occurs at heights of six feet or greater above a lower level. It has been commonly perceived that fall protection requirements begin when workers are within six feet of an unprotected edge, and some OSHA inspectors have followed this as an accepted standard. In April 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission issued a decision in a case that relates to this standard.
How Illegal U-Turns Cause Accidents in NYC
Driving in New York City isn’t easy. There’s so much traffic, and there are times when it can be really difficult to find a parking space. Drivers often have to change direction to get where they want to go, and sometimes they make hasty decisions. A properly executed U-turn is handy maneuver, but it can be dangerous when performed suddenly or in an illegal manner.
Filing a Claim After an Elevator Accident
People who live and work in New York City rely on elevators every day to get where we have to go. We may even take them for granted, without considering that an elevator is a complex mechanism that requires constant maintenance to function properly.
Elevator maintenance and repair is highly regulated, but sometimes accidents happen. When they do, the results can be devastating, often resulting in serious injury or death for elevator passengers. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an elevator accident, you have the right to reach out to an experienced New York elevator accident attorney to discuss your eligibility for compensation.
Hit by a Driver Who Was Under the Influence of Drugs?
New York’s drugged driving laws prohibit driving under the influence of drugs and controlled substances. It doesn’t matter if the drugs in question were obtained legally, or even if they were prescribed by a physician. If a person is not in the right physical and mental state to safely operate a motor vehicle for any reason, they should not be on the road.
What Are “Caught-in-Between” Accidents?
Caught-in-between accidents happen most frequently on construction sites. The term “caught-in-between” is used broadly by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to describe a category of injuries that involve being crushed under, between, or inside heavy machinery or objects.