Construction Workers Face Risks of Being Struck by an Object
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the second largest risk of on the job accidents for construction workers comes from being struck by an object.
In the construction industry, a “struck-by” injury occurs when a person is injured by forcible contact with an object or piece of equipment. A distinction is made between this and a “caught-in” or “-between” injury, which occurs when a person is crushed between objects.
A struck-by injury can occur from contact with a falling object, such as debris from a higher level of a work site, or from a flying object, such as an object suspended from a crane. It can also come from a flying object (one that is propelled through the air) or a rolling object (such as a pipe, rolling downhill).
In New York City construction, any of these “struck-by” injuries can happen on a worksite that is not practicing careful safety measures. Property owners and contractors are required to comply with industry best practices and with federal, state and local safety regulations on construction sites in order to protect workers from these hazards.
Unfortunately, appropriate safety measures are not always followed. The results can be catastrophic.
April 2019 saw two such accidents in New York City, both fatal.
In Manhattan, a man was hit in the head by a heavy stone slab and killed as he worked to repair the façade on a brick building. The accident occurred on a scaffolding suspended seven stories above East 50th Street.
In Soho, a 34-year-old construction worker was killed when he was struck by a crane counterweight that slipped.
Both of these accidents triggered investigations of the worksites.
Because of the significant danger presented as a result of a struck-by accidents. OSHA requires employers to fully train construction supervisors and workers on ways to notice dangers associated with suspended objects in order to prevent them from falling, flying or rolling into people. When these precautions are not taken seriously or are not observed it is the workers and their families who bear the often catastrophic consequences.
If you or a loved one was injured or died from a construction struck-by accident, contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC. We invite you to contact us for a no-cost consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.