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When you look at statistics for the most dangerous jobs in the United States, construction regularly tops the list. In a city like New York, where construction work is always happening as new buildings are constructed and existing buildings undergo repairs, NYC construction injuries and accidents occur with alarming frequency.
There are a number of serious risks involved in construction work regardless of where you might live. Common injuries in New York construction accidents include falls, slips and trips, devastating injuries from falling debris, electrocution, and accidents caused by malfunctioning tools.
Safety equipment and advances in technology often mean injuries occur less frequently, which is due to implementing improved safety standards for construction sites and workers. However, construction continues to be a dangerous and deadly industry.
According to a report from Crain’s New York, 2018 was actually the most dangerous year for construction worker injuries within 10 years. Some experts believe the rise in severe and deadly construction accidents is the result of the current construction boom the economy is experiencing following the country’s recovery from the recession.
Statistics from the Crain’s Report
Important statistics from the Crain’s New York report highlight the serious risks involved in the construction industry.
- Construction accidents in 2018 surpassed the number of injuries in 2017.
- The total number of construction injuries that happen in New York City has increased every year since 2014. According to construction and real estate industry experts, this coincides with the exponential growth of the construction boom in the city.
- There were 12 construction-related deaths at the end of November 2018, which equals the number of fatal construction injuries for the three previous years combined.
- Through October 2018, there were 650 construction accident injuries in New York City.
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is a federal agency, the construction industry in New York City sees more fatal accidents than any other sector. One media report states that city data reveals that construction work site deaths have risen 33 percent over the past five years. Within the same timeframe, worksite injuries have jumped a staggering 221 percent.
According to a representative from the Department of Buildings, there are about 45,000 active construction sites in New York City, and about 25 percent of these sites are not in compliance with the latest safety regulations.
Construction’s Deadly Four Accidents
Construction accidents can occur in a variety of ways. However, some types of accidents are more common than others. In fact, four types of construction accidents occur so often on work sites, they have become known as the “deadly four” within the industry. These common construction accidents include falls, struck-by accidents, caught-in-between accidents, and electrocutions.
Falls can happen in a variety of ways during construction, from slips on icy pavement to plunges off tall scaffolding, these injuries are often catastrophic for workers. Struck-by accidents also happen in a variety of ways, but are most often deadly when an object falls from a significant height and strikes a worker or civilian. For example, a hammer falling from several stories above may cause fatal injuries if it falls and hits the head of a construction worker or civilian below.
Caught-in-between or crushing accidents occur when a worker becomes trapped between two pieces of machinery or against an object, often leaving workers with devastating injuries. Electrocution on construction sites are equally damaging and occur most often due to surges in power or cables, or as a result of equipment not properly grounded. Any of these accidents can be deadly, which is why it’s so important for construction companies and construction supervisors to ensure they make safety a priority on every worksite.
Can Increased Safety Regulations Lower the Number of Construction Worker Injuries?
City officials say they’re doing more to reduce the number of construction worker fatalities and injuries. For example, current regulations require construction workers to have 10 hours of safety training. By 2020, however, construction workers will be required to undergo 40 hours of safety training.
Officials also state that workers and construction companies must pay expensive fines if they’re caught violating safety regulations. If a city safety inspector finds that a construction worker has failed to obtain the required numbers of safety training, the city may issue a fine to the worker, the construction company and the contractor for $5,000 each.
Working with a Construction Accident Lawyer in New York City
Construction law is quite specific in New York, due to laws that permit construction workers and others injured by falling debris and other types of accidents to receive compensation for their injuries and other damages. This is why it’s important to contact a New York City construction accident lawyer if you’ve been injured in a construction-related accident.
Because there are time limits for filing a claim for a construction accident injury, it’s important to avoid delays in your case. If you wait too long to bring your claim, you might be barred from seeking compensation. Speak with a construction accident lawyer at the best law firm in New York City by calling Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter at (212) 736-0979.
New York City Construction Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter
(T): 212-736-0979
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Sources:
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/careers/2018/01/09/workplace-fatalities-25-most-dangerous-jobs-america/1002500001/
- https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/city-construction-enduring-most-dangerous-year-nearly-decade
- https://commercialobserver.com/2019/01/nyc-construction-death-data-2017-2018/
- https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3216-6N-06-english-06-27-2007.html
- https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/04/29/construction-worker-deaths-nyc/
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