Every day, construction workers in New York City put their lives on the line to earn a paycheck. In response to a growing number of fatal construction accidents tracked by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), construction supervisors and workers must receive supplementary job safety training.
Local Law 196, signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017, requires new standards of training for construction workers. The training can be done through a 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA program, or through another 100-hour safety training program approved by the New York Department of Buildings (DOB).
The training is mandatory at construction sites that require a construction superintendent, site safety coordinator, or site safety manager. However, training is not required for delivery workers, flag persons, engineers, architects, or those working on small projects such as new homes and modifications.
How the training will benefit workers
Safety training covers falls, which were the leading cause of death between 2007 and 2016 according to NYCOSH. During that time, 101 construction workers in New York City fell to their deaths. This accounted for 46 percent of all construction deaths in the city. Most of these accidents were caused by poor scaffolding, unstable ladders, weak ropes and cables, defective stairs and floors, as well as mistakes made by co-workers or supervisors.
Even if workers survive falls from heights, they may sustain serious injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal injury
- Severed limbs
- Organ damage
- Cuts, bruises, and contusions
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
Hurt on the job? We're on your side
If you have suffered one of these injuries on the job, it is very unlikely that you will be able to return to work in the future. You may have to spend a significant amount of time in recovery. The cost of x-rays, medications, physical therapy, and possibly surgery can be monumental. Understanding your rights as an injured worker is the first step in pursuing a strong workers' compensation claim.
Your employer may not have complied with Local Law 196 or failed to provide you with adequate safety training. Our legal team can take these factors into consideration when evaluating your situation.
Don't hesitate to contact Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP Attorneys At Law to discuss your options. Our New York City law firm has over 80 years of experience handling workers' compensation claims like yours. We'll fight for the justice you deserve.