Falling on Site is the Biggest Risk to a Construction Worker
The construction industry provides a lot of employment in the New York metro area, but those jobs also come with a high-risk factor.
Thousands of workers are injured or killed every year on New York construction sites, in accidents ranging from structure failures and unsafe equipment to gas explosions and fires. And while accidents on construction sites can take many forms, the most common type of accident on New York City construction sites is falling from a dangerous height.
Unfortunately, falling injuries are common and often can be deadly or cause catastrophic injuries.
According to the New York City Department of Buildings, workers falling from height or just a tip and fall on a construction site resulted in 187 reported injuries or deaths in 2018 alone, or 25% of the total reported construction injuries and fatalities. And in the first half of 2019, 26% of construction injuries or fatalities were the result of falls experienced by construction workers.
In May, for example, a construction worker fell 30 feet to his death while working on a construction site in Midtown, while another worker was seriously injured from a shaft fall in Brooklyn. It appears that in both of these cases, the sites were lacking critical safety features.
After each of these accidents, the DOB issued stop work orders and investigated the sites for safety violations. These investigations may penalize the erring construction companies and will hopefully prevent future accidents, but they cannot restore the incredible losses suffered by the victims and their families.
If you or a loved one was injured or died from a construction fall accident, contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC. With over 100 years of collective experience, we aggressively strive for justice on behalf of our clients. Contact our legal team to get a confidential, no-cost case consultation. Call 877-MSL-4LAW.
Next in the Series:
Protect Yourself! Fall Prevention Tips for Construction Workers