The Latest News In Construction Safety
New York has some of the most comprehensive laws and regulations in place to ensure the safety of construction workers. Still, construction accidents continue to happen regularly – largely due to the negligence and lack of regulatory compliance on the part of contractors and construction site owners.
In this article, we take a look at some of the latest news in construction safety and the steps that the government has taken to ensure the health and safety of construction workers.
Highlights from the Department of Building (DOB)’s Annual Construction Safety Report for 2022
- In 2022, a total of 554 construction-related injuries were reported in New York City, which is a 9.7% increase from the previous year. The increase in construction injuries correlates with an 11% increase in construction activities throughout the city.
- The risk of fatal accidents is much higher on large worksites and complex projects compared to small worksites.
- Over 259,000 construction workers underwent Site Safety Training (SST), which was made mandatory in 2019 for construction workers who work on large worksites.
- There was a 55% increase in the number of proactive, unannounced inspections conducted by the DOB on large and complex construction sites.
- Falls continue to be the primary cause of accidents on construction sites. Most of the gravity related accidents are caused as a result of employers failing to comply with the necessary safety regulations.
- The DOB regularly visits construction sites of all sizes as part of its construction safety campaign to raise awareness among workers and contractors on the importance of construction site safety.
Carlos’ Law to Increase Penalties for Negligent Construction Employers
In December 2022, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation to establish Carlos’ Law, which aims to impose harsher penalties for criminally negligent contractors. The law is named after Carlos Moncayo – an undocumented construction worker who died in a trench collapse back in 2015.
Before Carlos’ Law was passed, a criminally negligent contractor only had to pay a fine of $5,000 (for a misdemeanor) and $10,000 (for a felony). With the introduction of Carlos’ Law, these penalty amounts have been revised and increased by 50 times.
Under the new law, if a construction worker is seriously injured or killed as a result of the negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions of their employer or contractor, the employer or contractor in question can be held criminally liable for the injury or death and can be fined anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 (for a misdemeanor) and anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million (for a felony).
Construction safety experts say that the law adds an additional layer of protection for construction workers and adds an additional layer of accountability for employers and contractors.
Legal Help is Available from Top Rated Construction Accident Attorneys in New York City
Construction workers in NYC have the right to work in a safe environment. If you have been injured in a construction site accident due to labor law violations, defective equipment, or due to the negligence of any third-party, you might be entitled to monetary compensation.
The New York construction accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and are committed to fighting for the rights of injured construction workers. We can help you get the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to as well as sue negligent third-parties to make sure you are fully compensated for your medical costs, pain and suffering and lost earnings.
Call us today at 212-962-1020 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a seasoned New York construction accident attorney.