Construction Site Accidents: An Epidemic in NYC

Both federal and state laws are in place for worker protection. In a report entitled “The Price of Life,” it is revealed that nearly 20 percent of occupational fatalities occur in New York, even though the state’s economy only accounts for 4 percent of national employment. Working construction has inherent risks, but a failure to ensure construction workers have proper safety protections has left many families bereft after the death of a loved one, or facing the consequences of a loved one who is so severely injured that he or she can no longer work. The types of construction activities that have proven to be the most dangerous, as listed by the U.S. Department of Labor, include:

• Working at an elevation. Falls to a lower level made up 49 percent of the construction industry fatalities in two recent years. With 80 percent of roofing and siding contractors being found to be in violation of safety laws, workers have died needlessly.
• Electrocutions. Construction workers are often fatally injured when energized electrical lines come into contact with tools or other metal components.
• Struck by Object. Falling tools or other items endanger all those who are busy working below. As these injuries are frequently to the head and skull, either death or traumatic brain injuries with permanent consequences can occur.
• Caught in or Between. Workers that get caught in or between moving machinery, vehicles, items being moved by cranes or lifts, loaders, or other situations can leave a worker either permanently or fatally injured.