New York Construction Accident & Safety News

Earlier today a construction worker was killed in New York City after falling over 40 stories to the ground. WNYC.org has a partial transcript of mayor Michael Bloomberg playing down the event:

BLOOMBERG: It is the first tragic accident fatality in construction since May. Keep in mind this is a dangerous industry and while the numbers vary dramatically year to year, 15 or 20 deaths a year is what you’d normally have in this industry.

According to the article. the site on which the worker died has 32 open construction codes violations.

The New York Daily News ran an opinion piece recently regarding OSHA and the real lack of protection for construction workers on the job site. Many are critical about the safety issues and blame local government, when in reality the blame should fall federally.

For all the talk about how the city has failed to keep construction sites safe, it’s this federal agency, not the city, that has jurisdiction over worker safety.

And OSHA’s failure to monitor work sites, update obsolete standards, levy meaningful penalties and provide adequate training about workplace hazards are a big reason for the rash of recent construction fatalities in New York City and across the country.

OSHA standards are also very out of date and the organization is having a hard time keeping up with the speed of technology, such as cranes, on the job site. With the city’s hands tied over legislation, who is going to step up for the workers?

New York is stepping up accountability on construction sites across the cit in the wake of the recent crane accident. The New York Times blog reports:

The construction codes were signed into law last July and most recently updated in March of this year. The implementation of the new codes comes as the Buildings Department has faced intense scrutiny over recent construction accidents — including two fatal crane collapses — and accusations of corruption among its ranks of inspectors.

Under city law, today marked the start of a one-year transition period during which applications for new buildings may comply with either the 1968 code or the new codes, which include standards for buildings, fuel and gas, mechanical systems, and plumbing. As of July 1, 2009, the new codes will be required for all new construction.

Luckily the next year until July 1, 2009 is a buffer zone of sorts, in which construction companies are given by New York to get into compliance with the new rules and regulations.

In the wake of recent construction accidents incidents, New York is revising its building code. Forbes reports:

New York City is revamping its building codes for the first time in four decades to require new safety measures for construction sites and increase penalties for violations.

Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri says the new codes will “raise construction safety standards to a level never seen before.”

This is the first time building codes have been modernized since 1968.

Its been 40 years since the last time, so it seems like a warranted action given that the current system is broken.

Drinking while on the job may be responsible for recent construction accidents. CBS Chicago highlights:

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Construction accidents have claimed the lives of 20 in New York City this year alone. As federal safety watchdogs kick off a two-week crackdown on high-risk building sites, CBS station WCBS-TV in New York found it wasn’t hard to find workers having a liquid lunch, then heading back to work where they may be putting everyone around them in harm’s way.

At one Upper West Side watering hole, it seems like it’s happy hour, with patrons clinking glasses and guzzling booze - except it’s noon, and the construction workers having some drinks still have to go back to work building a high-rise condo complex nearby.

Construction while under the influence is playing russian roulette with your future and the safety of New York City residents.

Another unfortunate construction accident to report in New York City. WNBC reports:

NEW YORK — A steel worker fell from a fifth floor platform to a third floor setback on Saturday as he was trying to bolt steel, according to the New York City Buildings Department.

The accident occurred at the construction site of a steel residential building at 452 East 23rd St.

Apparently, the safety harness was not properly sealed. We hope he’s better now.

Its not surprising that legal action is following in the wake of injuries resulting from the recent crane collapse in NYC. The Associated Press points out:

NEW YORK (AP) — The owner of a building that was badly damaged in a deadly crane collapse has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the crane owner, contractor and others working on a new 32-story apartment tower across the street.

The company, First & 91 LLC, says in court papers filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court that it lost tenants and rent revenue, faces additional costs including repairs, and will suffer because the Upper East Side building has been “stigmatized.”

The lawsuit names crane owner New York Crane & Equipment, crane lessee Sorbara Construction, general contractor Leon D. Dematteis Construction and the owner of the building under construction, 1765 First Associates LLC.

Hopefully justice will be done public safety is affirmed by the precedent.

The trend in construction crane accidents is not just a regional problem isolated to New York cities. Contrarily, a recent crane accident in Colorado proves one in a number of nationwide crane accidents. The Times highlights:

Crane safety has become an issue of concern in the construction industry this year after a high-profile crane collapse in New York City killed seven people. That accident was followed by another collapse in New York City, as well as collapses in Miami, Dallas, and Kansas City, Mo.

It is a time of sorrow and empathy for crane accident victims nationwide, I’m sure New Yorkers and other American can identify with the high profile cities like Miami, Dallas, and Kansas City that should be the canary’s in the cave pointing toward a safer and accountable system of crane worker safety. Federal action on the issue, whether through a national counsel or merely implementing the guidelines the Federal government has already outlined. Once the Iowa flood disasters subside, urgent action is needed on the issue of crane safety. We cannot be silent.

The construction debacles of New York City construction companies continue to make headlines. The New York Times reports:

The owner of a Brooklyn construction site has been charged with manslaughter in the death of one of his workers, who was buried while digging a foundation when a wall from the house next door collapsed into the hole.

The owner, William Lattarulo, who had hired day laborers to build a coin laundromat in East New York, is accused of ignoring clear safety hazards and forcing his employees to endanger themselves so he could keep his construction moving forward. The indictment marks an unusual step for prosecutors, but it comes amid a spate of construction accidents that have killed or injured dozens of people and cast the city’s contractors and buildings inspectors in an unforgiving light.

The accident occurred on the morning of March 12 when Louro Ortega, 30, an illegal immigrant earning $100 a day, was digging the foundation at 791 Glenmore Avenue in East New York. According to the authorities, Mr. Lattarulo, who owns several adjacent houses, including the one that fell, was warned by a consultant and a more experienced contractor at the site that the new foundation was lower than the foundation beside it and needed underpins to keep it stable.

Instead of heeding those warnings, the authorities said, Mr. Lattarulo ordered Mr. Ortega to keep digging. Moments later, part of a wall from a residential building next door collapsed and sent rubble spilling onto Mr. Ortega, killing him and injuring another worker on the site.

New York City is facing possibly liability related to crane construction accidents. Reuters highlights:

New York City has received more than $497 million of claims for personal injury, property damage and wrongful death due to a construction crane collapse on Manhattan’s East Side on March 15, the city comptroller said on Friday.

The 90-day filing deadline ended on Friday, and out of the 46 claims that name the City of New York, “several” filings do not seek any specific dollar amount, said Jeff Simmons, a spokesman for the Democratic Comptroller William Thompson.

Seven people died when the giant construction crane fell and crushed a midtown apartment building on East 51st Street, and more than 10 were injured.

Hopefully, these suits will bring attention to the plight of injured workers in New York and beyond.