Despite the safety regulations that federal and state authorities mandate, lives continue to be lost on building sites in New York. One of the most recent construction workers' accidents happened in Brooklyn on a recent Wednesday. It claimed the life of a 47-year-old employee of a building contractor.According to a report by the New York City Fire Department, the worker was trapped when a retaining wall collapsed. Reportedly six workers who were clearing out the foundation on the construction site at about 1:30 p.m. were caught unawares when the 20-foot wall collapsed onto them. Five men managed to get to safety, but the sixth worker was buried under tons of rubble.FDNY says rescue efforts were suspended due to heavy rain that caused instability on the site. Before ending the search [...]

Workers in the New York construction industry are supposed to be protected from known hazards by their employers. Sadly, many employees do not enjoy that kind of protection. Some construction workers' accidents occur in circumstances that involve safety violations. Compliance with safety regulations might have prevented the recent death of a 50-year-old worker.According to a spokesperson for the Department of Design and Construction of the city, the worker was a member of a crew installing water mains and sewers in Staten Island. Reportedly, he was in the confined space of a utility hole where he was working with a chainsaw. While trying to saw through a pipe, it appears the chainsaw slipped and cut the worker's hand and throat.Co-workers tried to stop the blood flowing from the deep laceration. NYPD [...]

The New York State Department of Transportation recently urged drivers to take extra care as they travel through road construction zones. Reportedly, crashes in work zones totaled almost 700 in 2017, with most of them caused by distracted driving. NYSDOT highway maintenance employees are at risk of being injured or killed in construction workers' accidents on every shift they work.Workers remind drivers that they are incredibly vulnerable, working right next to those orange cones with no protection. They report seeing drivers talking and texting on mobile devices every day. One worker even saw a driver working on his laptop as he went through the work zone. The same worker says he is still suffering the consequences of injuries he suffered when his construction vehicle was rear-ended by a tractor trailer [...]

Those who work in construction in New York typically have to face a host of safety hazards regardless of whether a project involves a residence or a skyscraper. Although safety authorities expect employers to protect the health and safety of workers, the range of risks is so vast that safety violations seem to be par for the course. Unfortunately, the slightest errors can cause construction workers' accidents with catastrophic consequences.The Department of Buildings and the FDNY are investigating an incident that occurred in 3 World Trade Center on a recent Thursday. Work inside the skyscraper that has only been open since June involved a plywood and sheetrock wall being dismantled. An accident of which details were not reported occurred, and first responders received a call shortly before 2:30 p.m.Reportedly, only [...]

Millions of workers in New York and other states report for duty at construction sites every day, knowing that they will put their lives on the line. Regardless of whether they are involved in building a residence or a skyscraper, some common hazards exist. Although employers are responsible for the health and safety of their workers, employees can do a lot to protect themselves and prevent construction workers' accidents.One of the most important aspects of avoiding injuries is to attend each safety meeting and training session. Being informed and educated about potential hazards can help to establish safe workplace practices. Training will also ensure that workers recognize the importance of wearing personal protective equipment such as hard hats, face shields or safety goggles, safety boots with steel toes, gloves and [...]

Scaffolding structures pose different safety hazards. This fact was recently underscored at a New York work site in Upper Manhattan. Not only are the workers on a scaffold at risk of falling but also those working at lower levels who might be struck by falling objects from above. Construction workers' accidents involving scaffolds have claimed many lives over the years.Reportedly, employees of a construction and renovation company were working on the exterior of a building that served as the residence of students from various universities. While dismantling the scaffold structure from the top earlier this month, two workers dropped one of the beams. Another worker who was working at a lower level was struck against the head.The 28-year-old construction worker was transported to a medical facility. Sadly, he succumbed to [...]

A New York father with two children in college is facing at least four months of recovery before he can return to work. In the meantime, his lost wages and the mounting medical bills are causing concern. Construction workers' accidents often leave injured victims facing financial hardship. This man was struck by a hit-and-run driver while working in a construction zone on Staten Island.Reportedly, the incident occurred on a Wednesday afternoon while the worker was directing trucks at the entrance to a construction yard. Authorities say a trailer that was attached to a pickup truck struck the worker from behind, causing him to fall over, and the truck then went over his leg. The construction worker says he suffered multiple abrasions and three fractures in his leg, which is now [...]

Building sites in New York pose hazards to more than the employees involved in the construction activities. Now and then, construction workers' accidents also involve other individuals in the vicinity. One such an accident recently claimed the life of a security guard.Reportedly, a stop work order was issued after a fatal incident on the building site of a planned 1,550-foot tall skyscraper in Manhattan. Reportedly, the New York Department of Buildings also issued a violation for the fact that the construction company failed to ensure the safety of workers on the work site. The fatal incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. on a recent Saturday.A police report indicates that a massive glass panel, measuring eight by 14 feet, toppled over when workers attempted to move it. The glass fell onto a [...]

The owners of construction companies in New York are responsible for the safety of employees. However, if they fail to enforce compliance with the safety regulations prescribed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, construction workers' accidents are sure to happen. In one such a case, a worker recently fell from a scaffold in Onondaga County.According to authorities, a 70-year-old worker was on a scaffolding structure to install siding on a residence when he fell from a height of between 12 and 15 feet. Reportedly he landed on an air conditioner unit, and he was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries not thought to be life-threatening. The reason for his fall might indicate a lack of supervision.A spokesperson for the sheriff says a cable wire between a utility [...]

The New York City Buildings Commissioner recently announced new requirements for the number of hours construction workers must spend in safety training. He says most construction workers' accidents are preventable, and the fact that so many injuries and deaths continue to occur underscores the need for additional safety training. Reportedly, changes will become effective in stages over more than two years.The new regulations will apply to construction workers on building sites where site-safety managers, site-safety coordinators and construction superintendents are required by the Department of Buildings. The current safety training requirements of 10 hours for workers will be increased to 30 hours by December and 40 hours by May next year. Supervisors will need 62 hours of safety training.The commissioner said the training opportunities would be flexible. An example is [...]