A 45-year-old construction worker was killed recently when he fell 15 feet and struck his head in Queens. According to local police, the man fell through the floor of a four-story building that was in the process of being constructed and hit his head on a metal girder. A witness allegedly told authorities that the man appeared to have lost his balance when he crossed over a hole. Although paramedics transported the injured worker to Mt. Sinai Hospital, the man reportedly succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the fall before he arrived.
Following the workplace accident, the New York Department of Buildings issued a stop work order for the building site pending the outcome of an investigation into the fatal incident. In addition, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is allegedly investigating the Brooklyn man's death in an effort to determine whether those in charge of the building site complied with federal workplace safety requirements.
In 2011, 4,609 individuals were killed in workplace accidents in New York and across the country. OSHA was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in an effort to reduce or eliminate the number of serious workplace injuries and deaths suffered by employees throughout the United States. The Act requires employers to comply with federal health and safety requirements and provide employees with a workplace environment that is reasonably free of safety hazards. When a fatal workplace incident occurs, OSHA will normally investigate whether the accident site was in compliance with federal safety regulations.
According to OSHA, more than 17 percent of workplace deaths in the U.S. occur at construction sites. Unfortunately, those employed in the construction industry normally face treacherous working environments on a daily basis. The top four causes of construction worker fatalities include unexpected falls, electrocution, being struck by an object, and being caught or crushed. OSHA data states an employer's failure to provide adequate fall protection for construction workers is the second most frequently cited safety violation in the nation.
Most on the job injuries in New York are subject to state workers' compensation laws. In some cases, however, a third party such as a general contractor may also be held responsible for failing to utilize sufficient health and safety measures. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed while working at a construction site in New York, you should contact a quality personal injury lawyer for assistance.
If you were injured or someone you love died as a result of a construction accident in New York, please contact the experienced attorneys at Korngut Paleudis LLC. At Korngut Paleudis LLC, our knowledgeable New York City personal injury and accident law lawyers are available to help the victims of unexpected workplace accidents achieve the compensation they deserve. Our dedicated attorneys have more than 45 years of experience assisting clients who are located in New York and New Jersey. To speak with a capable lawyer about your personal injury or wrongful death claim, do not hesitate to contact Korngut Paleudis LLC through the law firm's website or give us a call at (212) 835-6768 in New York City.
Worker at building site in Astoria dies from fall, by Rebecca Henely, Times Ledger
Queens construction worker is dead in horrifying accident, by Kerry Burke and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News