A recent fatality on a New York construction site was "completely preventable," according to news reports about the tragedy.
An anchoring bracket fell 10 stories from scaffolding and hit a construction worker's head on Dec. 18. The man was found unconscious and suffering from severe head trauma.
The construction site in Chelsea had faced numerous code violations prior to the fatal accident, according to the New York Daily News. The Daily News reported that many of the violations were related to scaffolding issues.
The New York Department of Buildings (DOB) shut down operations on the site and was preparing to issue violations, which cited a "failure to certify correction of a Class 1 (immediately hazardous) violation."
The DOB listed six violations at the construction site between October 2016 and December 2017, according to an AM New York report.
"This tragedy appears to have been completely preventable and we are taking enforcement actions against all parties involved," a DOB spokesman said in a statement to news organizations.
Construction work remains one of the most dangerous jobs
The December construction accident serves as a reminder of the risks workers face on the job every day - and the critical importance of following safety regulations.
Last September, the City Council approved a bill requiring at least 40 hours of safety training for workers, according to The New York Times. The Times found that the number of fatal accidents involving construction workers had outpaced the rate of new building.
According to the Department of Buildings, 12 construction workers had died each year in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Eight workers died in 2014.
Construction remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 18 fatal injuries per 100,000 "first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers" in 2016, according to the BLS, which ranks construction workers in the top 10 most dangerous jobs.
Falls, slips and trips on job sites represent the leading cause of fatal accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cites the following as potential hazards for construction workers:
- Falls
- Trench collapse
- Scaffold collapse
- Electric shock
- Failure to use property personal protective equipment
- Repetitive motion injuries
According to OSHA, contractors should ensure scaffolds are erected and used properly to protect workers. By taking adequate steps, 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities can be prevented in the United States each year.
The fatal accident in December, involving an object that fell from a scaffold, was preventable. As attorneys who advocate for injured workers and their families, we hope all New York contractors take all steps necessary to keep construction workers safe.
If you or a loved one was injured or died in a construction accident, contact an experienced workers' compensation attorney for a free consultation. Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, serves New Yorkers who have been hurt on the job and families who have lost loved ones in work accidents.