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Defects Found in Crane Involved in Manhattan Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
May 08, 2012

Investigations have found several defects in a crane that was involved in a deadly construction accident at a Manhattan site earlier this month.  The accident occurred when the upper section of the plane broke off, and fell.  The accident killed a worker from New Jersey. 

The 170-foot crane collapsed at the site, also injuring several workers.  Investigations have found that there were several defects in the hoisting system of the crane.  An investigation conducted by the New York City Department of Buildings found that the there had been several problems reported with the maintenance and operation of the crane before the accident. 

According to reports, the crane had only recently been inspected by the Department of Buildings on January 10.  However, the crane was in operation at the time, and therefore, the inspection could not be completed.  Another follow-up inspection had been scheduled for later.  However, before this inspection could be conducted, sections of the crane collapsed.  Work on the Manhattan construction site has been suspended. 

Crane safety in New York has been a hot button safety issue.  In fact, this was the 3rd fatal crane accident over the last 4 years.  To New York construction accident lawyers, this accident was reminiscent of a series of accidents that occurred in 2008, killing 9 people.  Since then, safety procedures have been overhauled, but as this accident shows, more action needs to be taken to keep workers safe.

The New York construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile are dedicated to the representation of construction workers injured in crane accidents, scaffolding accidents, falls, electrical accidents, and other types of accidents on construction sites across New York State.

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Recession May Have Contributed to Fewer Construction Worker Injuries
Posted by: William Gentile
April 02, 2012

According to new research, the recession may have contributed to a decline in the number of orthopedic injuries in the construction workforce. 

The findings of the study were presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual conference in San Francisco recently.  The study focused on worker injuries in Tampa, Florida, and correlated the numbers to the employment rate during the same period of time.  The researchers found that there was definitely a decline in the number of worker injuries corresponding with a decline in employment rates.

Tampa was one of the cities that benefited heavily from the construction boom, and not surprisingly, when the recession hit, this was one of the regions that saw a quick drop in the employment rate. 

Researchers also found that cases of orthopedic trauma dropped from 2,065 in 2007 to 1,743 in 2009.  That was a decline of 16%.  During the same time, the unemployment rate in Tampa increased from 4% to 10.7%. 

The decline in construction worker employment was especially sharp during this time.  Construction worker jobs dropped by a staggering 36% between 2006 and 2009.  The number of new construction projects also dropped with an 80% decline in the number of county building permits that were issued during this period of time.

According to the researchers, there can be many unexpected effects on worker health and safety in a poor economic climate.  For instance, workers may take fewer risks, including work-related risks during a recession.  They also tend to take much better care of themselves, during a recession.  New York construction accident attorneys find those facts very intriguing.

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Drop in New York City Construction Accidents
Posted by: William Gentile
April 02, 2012

The year 2011 had both good and bad news for New York construction accident lawyers.  The good news was that there was an 18% drop in construction accidents across New York City between 2010 and 2011.  The bad news was that this decline did not exactly translate into a sharp drop in fatalities.  There were 5 deaths in construction accidents during the same period of time.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the decline in construction accidents recently during a visit to a construction site.  According to the mayor, there were 152 construction accidents in 2011.  The previous year, there had been 155 accidents.  The decline was seen even though the City of New York issued 7.7% more construction permits in 2011.

However, there was actually an increase in the number of construction -related fatalities in 2011.  Last year, 5 people died in construction-related accidents in the city, compared to 4 the previous year.  That is definitely alarming, even though the mayor hastens to add that 5 fatalities is a 78% decrease from 2008.

New York construction accident lawyers would attribute the decline in construction accidents in 2011 to a number of reforms that have been implemented recently.  In 2009, the city reviewed its construction code, and implemented a number of reforms, including new rules that require the inspection of stalled construction projects.  The City also launched a fall accident prevention campaign aimed at preventing falls in the construction sector.  The city has also implemented at least 25 other safety laws since 2009. 

The fact that fatalities have increased however, is very concerning.  Obviously, more efforts need to be made to prevent really serious accidents like trench collapses that almost always end in death.

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New York Construction Company Cited for Scaffolding Violations
Posted by: William Gentile
April 02, 2012

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Brooklyn, New York-based construction company for scaffolding violations contributing to the near-fatal fall of a worker last year.  The worker fortunately survived the 80-foot fall, but the agency found a number of violations including scaffolding maintenance and fall protection violations at the site.

The accident occurred on September 20, 2011, when the worker fell approximately 80 feet from the top of a110- foot high scaffolding.  Officers from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?s Manhattan area office conducted an inspection of the site. 

They found a number of violations, including a failure to fully plan the scaffolding.  The scaffolding also lacked guardrails.  They also found that an aluminum access platform had not been secured against displacement, and that one construction worker had not been tied off to a safe anchorage point.  Construction workers accessed work areas by scooting up and down the scaffolding frames.

The agency has cited masonry contractor Navillus Contracting Tile Inc. for these scaffolding and fall safety violations.  The agency has proposed close to $40,000 in fines.  According to the agency, the fact that the worker survived such a massive fall was more a matter of luck than any kind of prevention strategies employed by the company. 

Employers can prevent fall and scaffolding -related accidents by implementing effective fall prevention programs to eliminate hazards.

The New York construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile represent construction workers injured in accidents across New York City.

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New York Court Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking to Block Crane Safety Rules
Posted by: William Gentile
January 23, 2012

A New York court has dismissed the idea that state rules that are meant to protect the public are preempted by federal rules committed to protecting workers.  The decision came in a claim that had been filed by the Steel Institute of New York.

The Steel Institute of New York filed a lawsuit against the New York City's Department of Buildings in July 2009.  The lawsuit came soon after the city revised its crane safety rules following a series of deadly tower crane accidents in New York City.  However, according to the Steel Institute of New York, the new crane safety statutes were created by the US federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, which governs workplace safety in the United States.  The lawsuit claimed that the new crane safety statutes violated the rights of members of the Steel Institute of New York.  The Steel Institute of New York lawsuits argued that the regulations were preempted by federal law, thereby effectively blocking them.

The court however has not obliged the Steel Institute.  According to the court's decision, it is absurd to say that a federal law that protects workers? rights should take precedence over a state law that is aimed at protecting general citizens.  The court held that the Steel Institute of New York lawsuit was not able to present even a single instance as evidence to show that complying with any provision of the New York crane safety statutes would constitute a violation of regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Demonstration.

The New York construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile represent workers injured in crane accidents, scaffolding accidents, falls, electrocutions and other construction-related accidents across New York.

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New York Department of Buildings Will Cite Contractor in Scaffolding Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
October 31, 2011

The New York Department of Buildings is likely to issue citations to a demolition contractor after scaffolding at a site collapsed on a bus, injuring at least 17 people.

The accident occurred in Harlem, when the city bus was stopped in front of a building with scaffolding.  According to witnesses, the scaffolding suddenly collapsed on top of the bus.  Seventeen people, including passengers, bystanders and construction workers suffered injuries.  Eight of the injured were passengers, and two were police officers.  Fortunately, most of these injuries were minor.  

The scaffolding had been erected on a building where an elevator shaft was being constructed.  Early information seems to suggest that the scaffolding collapsed because of bricks that fell on the scaffolding.  The New York Department of Buildings has already acted by stopping work on the site immediately.  The Department of Buildings will also soon issue citations to the contractor involved.

That no construction workers were seriously injured in this accident is a matter of good luck, and nothing else.  This is an accident that could have resulted in serious injuries.  Every year, hundreds of workers are seriously injured or killed in scaffolding collapses nationwide. Workers involved in a scaffolding collapse could suffer serious injuries, including head and spinal cord injuries.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established guidelines governing the construction and installation of scaffolding.  Scaffolding that has been constructed and installed as per Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines should include stable work platforms.  Scaffolding components, like frames must be strong enough to withstand the weight of workers and tools.

The New York construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile have extensive experience representing construction workers injured in accidents in New York.  If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact a competent and experienced New York construction accident attorney at Godosky and Gentile for a free consultation.

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New York Construction Worker Killed in Accident Involving MTA Bus
Posted by: William Gentile
October 11, 2011

A New York construction worker was killed in an accident caused when a Metropolitan Transit Authority struck the lift that he was standing on, causing him to plummet to the ground. 

The worker was standing on the lift at a construction site, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority bus was traveling through a Long Island Railroad overpass, when the top of the bus struck the lift.  The worker was knocked off, and fell several feet to the ground.  He struck his head on the pavement, and sustained severe head injuries.  He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead.

The bus driver was detained, but charges have not yet been filed.  Blood and alcohol tests are being conducted on the driver, but results will not be out for several days.  Police have released little information about this accident.

Investigations into the accident have begun, but it doesn't take a New York construction accident attorney to know that this was a very preventable accident.  This wasn't just any kind of construction fall accident.  The construction industry is the scene of several severely injurious and fatal auto accidents every year.  In fact, fall accidents are the main causes of death in the construction sector.  Workers may be at risk of fall accidents, when they have little protection in the form of guardrails, and personal fall restraint systems.  These falls can be prevented if employers provide fall protection gear, and use guardrails and railing appropriately to reduce the risk of falls

The New York construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile have extensive experience representing construction workers injured in accidents in New York.  If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact a competent and experienced New York construction accident attorney at Godosky and Gentile for a free consultation. 

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Worker Killed in Machinery Accident on New York Construction Site
Posted by: William Gentile
September 06, 2011

A forty-six-year-old worker was killed last week in an accident involving a piece of machinery on a construction site in New York.  The accidenthappened at a railroad bed in Port Kent, close to Plattsburgh. 

The man was an employee of Trenches Technologies of New England.  On the day of the accident, he was working on the installation of a 3-foot diameter pipe, and was using an augur.  At some point, the augur became bound to the pipe, throwing the worker off to the ground, and trapping him.  Another worker at the scene tried to get the augur off the worker, and CPR was administered by other people at the scene.  He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to begin an investigation into the accident.  New York State police are already investigating the tragedy.

Accidents involving construction machinery are not uncommon.  In most of these accidents, New York construction accident lawyers find that it is the lack of proper training for workers and the lack of adequate machinery safeguards that contribute to injuries.  Worker training has to be an ongoing process and these programs must be implemented regularly.  Additionally, machinery must come with well-functioning safeguards to prevent injuries and accidents.  When employers scrimp on these safety devices, or fail to train workers to use machinery safety, the results are often disastrous.

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New York Construction Companies Cited after Fatal Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
August 09, 2011

The Occupational Safety And Health Administration has citedthree New York construction companies for several violations in the death of a worker in an accident in January.  The three companies, H Rock Corporation, Vera Construction Inc. and Sing Da corp., have been cited for willful repeated and serious violations of construction safety standards.

The fatal accident occurred on January 10.  The worker was near a large concrete block wall that was being filled with cement, when the wall collapsed.  The worker was killed and three other workers were injured.  The victim and the injured workers were employees of Sing Da Corporation.  They were on a scaffold, and bore the maximum impact of the collapse.  Two other workers were on top of the wall, and were able to escape with moderate injuries.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed its investigation into the accident. Sing Da Corporation has been cited for one willful violation for failing to strengthen the wall.  This citation comes with a penalty of $42,000.  Sing Da Corporation was also cited with five serious violations, and these could end with the company facing penalties of up to $21,000.

H Rock Corporation was cited for several serious violations, including leaving floor holes unguarded, failure to strengthen the scaffold, and failure to provide workers head protection.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also found that the company had failed to establish a proper safety program.  For this, the company faces penalties of up to $30,000.

Vera Construction Inc. was cited for three safety violations, including leaving floor holes unguarded, and failure to establish a safety program.  The company is facing about $8,500 in fines, as well as $6,700 in additional fines for repeat violations.

Unfortunately, New York construction accident attorneys continue to come across too many instances involving construction companies that scrimp on safety equipment, training and appropriate safety procedures that can save lives.

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New York Construction Company Cited for Violations at Manhattan Site
Posted by: William Gentile
August 02, 2011

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a New York company for several workplace safety violations.  The company, Heng Wei Construction Inc. has been cited for 11 alleged violations of workplace safety standards.

The citation came after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted inspections of the construction worksite in Manhattan.  The investigation was opened after an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection found that an employee at the company was operating an unguarded grinder.  The employee was also not wearing any protection as required by OSHA Guidelines. 

The inspection also focused on a lot of other construction safety hazards at the worksite.  These hazards included wrongly plugged equipment lying on the sidewalk, and exposed circuit breaker panels.  The construction company also failed to have a competent person on site to inspect the site for construction workplace safety hazards, and to train workers to avoid hazards.  The contractor faces more than $44,000 in fines. 

New York's construction industry has been under a cloud this year after a string of serious and fatal accidents that have already claimed several lives.  For construction accident attorneys in New York, the unfortunate truth has always been that these accidents are so preventable.  A construction worksite is home to more serious hazards than most other worksites, but most of these can be prevented if employees andcontractors follow guidelines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Unfortunately, following these guidelines very often requires an investment in money, and many construction companies choose not to invest in these measures. 

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Construction Worker Loses Hand in New York Accident
Posted by: William Gentile
May 20, 2011

A construction worker has lost his hand in a horrific work-related accident in New York.  The accident occurred earlier this month when the 20-year-old worker was performing repairs at a home in Staten Island.  The man was apparently standing on a ladder and seems to have fallen off, resulting in a power saw slicing off his left hand at the wrist.

The construction sector continues to take a heavy toll in worker lives and injuries.  According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, construction workers were involved in more fatal accidents than any other workers in 2009.  In fact, in that year, these workers suffered more fatal workplace accidents than workers in any other industry.

Falls on a construction site are some of the most frequent construction-related accidents. In spite of the fact that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has strict standards in place for the prevention of fall accidents,every year New York construction accident attorneys come across more cases of workers being injured or killed through entirely preventable falls.

Besides falls, there could be a number of other ways that construction workers are injured on a site. Workers may be struck by falling objects and flying debris.  They may be electrocuted from contact with underground or overhead high-tension power lines, and may suffer injuries in crane-related accidents.  Besides, they may be injured in other accidents that involve heavy construction equipment used on the site.  Some of the worst construction accidents involve wall collapses.  Mostof these accidents tend to be fatal, because, in most cases, by the time rescue reaches the trapped worker, it's too late.

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Accident Prevention Tops Agenda of New York City Construction Safety Week
Posted by: William Gentile
April 29, 2011

With three construction worker fatalities already in 2011, it is very important that the Department of Buildings addresses New York construction accident attorneys' concerns about the deteriorating state of construction safety in the city. In a nod to these concerns, the New York City Department of Buildings recently posted the agenda for this year's annual Construction Safety Week on its website.  The Annual Construction Safety Week will last from 25 April to 29 April. According to the agenda, the event is likely to be marked by extensive discussions on accident prevention, safe scaffolding and demolition and community partnerships. 

There have already been three construction accident fatalities in the city of New York this year alone. The most recent accident occurred in February, when a group of workers was working on an elevator shaft 70 feet above ground.  Two of the workers fell to their deaths.  For many of us, this was a shocking reminder of the continued dangers in the construction sector, in spite of efforts to prevent deaths in the industry.

Every year, more than 1,000 construction workers are killed in accidents in the workplace, and many more are left with serious and debilitating injuries.  Last year saw a slight drop in construction accident fatalities in the city of New York, but that decline seems to have stalled, judging by the fatality rate this year.  The Department of Buildings needs to revisit what it is currently doing to enhance construction safety, and see if greater oversight could prevent such accidents in the future.  For instance, in the accident that killed the two workers, the site had been the subject of several violations by the Department of Buildings earlier.  Increased oversight of a company with extensive violations to its name could possibly have saved those lives.

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New York Construction Accident Lawyers Urge Caution during National Work Zone Safety Week
Posted by: William Gentile
April 24, 2011

A total of 116 construction workers were killed in work zone accidents in 2009, which is the last year for which such statistics are available.  Earlier this month, New York construction accident attorneys commemorated National Work Zone Safety Week, calling on motorists to watch out forconstruction workers to prevent a crash.

Besides the 116 construction workers who were killed in these accidents, more than 600 motorists were killed in crashes inside a work zone.  Many of these accidents can be traced to failure on the part of motorists to keep speeds low.  The biggest rule of safety to follow when youenter a work zone is to drop your speeds to reasonable levels.  Maintain low levels of speed while you're inside the zone.  Keep a look out forconstruction workers, electrical crews, highway repair men, and other utility contractors inside the work zone.  These people may be at risk of an accident caused by speeding or distracted motorists.

When you enter a work zone, avoid tailgating, and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.  Look out for construction equipment and barriers that may be scattered around the work zone.  Look out for posted signs, and obey these diligently.  Respect the rights of other workers traveling through the work zone, and avoid impatience and honking.  Remember, that traffic delays are inevitable if you are passing through a work zone. If you're traveling through a work zone in the late evening, switch on your headlights.  Avoid all distractions while driving.

Most of all, remember that construction workers inside the zone are doing their job, and need to be treated with respect.  These people are out on the highway in all kinds of weather to make the highways safer for you.  They don't have to be killed or seriously injured for doing so.

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First Construction Accident Fatality of 2011 in Queens
Posted by: William Gentile
February 15, 2011

Just last week, the Department of Buildings released a report that showed a decline in construction accidents in New York City in 2010. A few days into 2011, and the city recorded its first construction accident fatality, this time in Queens.The accident occurred at a construction site when a concrete wall collapsed,killing a worker.

According to fire crews, the construction workers wereworking on a one-story single block wall. The wall was around 20 feet high, and collapsed when the workers began pouring concrete. The workers were standing on the scaffolding, and fell down. The victim was standing just under the concrete wall that collapsed, and quickly suffered a cardiac arrest. At least four other workers were seriously injured.

For the family of the victim who died in the tragedy, this particular construction accident was unspeakably cruel. Not only did he lose one family member in the accident, but one of his brothers, who was also working at the construction site, was one of the injured. All the injured workers are reported to be in a serious condition, but are stable.

Investigations into the accident are still going on, but a fact that won't escape NewYork construction accident attorneys is that this particular constructionsite has been the scene of several construction safety violations in the past.The Department of Buildings has now issued a Stop Work Order on the site. Thisis not the first time that the site has received an order like this. In fact, there have been a total of six such orders issued for the site, since work on the project began in June 2009.

The project belongs to developer Tommy Huang, , and in the wake of this accident, New York Sen. Tony Avella has announced that he will be pursuing a ban on new building permits for Huang in New York City.

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Decrease in Construction Accidents in New York City in 2010
Posted by: William Gentile
February 15, 2011

Blame it on a more vigilant Department of Buildings or increased pressure from New York construction accident attorneys. Statistics by the New York Department of Buildings show that 2010 was a very safe year in the construction industry,with a 28% drop in construction accidents in the city last year.

According to the report released by the Department of Buildings, there were 157 construction-related accidents in 2010, compared to 218 in 2009. There was also a decline in the number of injuries from construction-related accidents. In 2010, the total number of construction-related injuries was 165, compared to 241 in 2009. That was a one percent decrease in injuries.

2010 also saw four fatal construction accidents, and two of these were in Brooklyn. That was a dramatic 78% decrease from 2008, when there were 19 deaths in the construction industry. However, not all is rosy on the construction safety front. The four fatalities in the construction industry in 2010 was actually an increase over the previous year, when there were three construction accident-related fatalities.

The Department of Buildings report also indicates that inspectors have been busier enforcing safety regulations. There was a significant increase in the number of Stop Work Orders issued by Department of Buildings inspectors. Overall, more than 6700 complete and partial Stop Work Orders were issued by inspectors for unsafe working conditions at a construction site last year. Besides the Department of Buildings has been busy reworking legislation, and has implemented at least 25 new construction safety laws. These laws have led to the creation of new inspection units, as well as the establishment of safety education and awareness campaigns.

Obviously, more needs to be done. Just one day before the report was released; a concrete wall collapse in Queens killed one construction worker and injured three others. As long as employers continue to take shortcuts in safety, New York City construction accident lawyers will come across preventable deaths like these.

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Investigations on into Death of New York Construction Worker
Posted by: William Gentile
October 20, 2010

Officials are still probing the death of a constructionworker who died in a horrific crushing accident on the Williamsburg Bridge lastweek.  The worker, 50-year-old JerryBurgess was standing on a mechanical lift. He had been preparing the bridge just before a paint job, when theplatform suddenly became stuck.  The man andhis partner began working to reactivate the platform.  According to officials, the platform suddenlymoved, and the worker was trapped between the steel supports of the bridge andthe lift. 

He sustained crushing injuries, and was rushed to thehospital.  He succumbed to his injuries,a little while later.  Burgess was anemployee of a contractor, who had been hired by the NY Department ofTransportation for paint and repair work on the bridge.

There is no information yet on what caused thisaccident.  Details are still hazy, andonly a complete investigation will point clearly to what happened here.  For now, it seems like there was a mechanicalmalfunctioning at some point in the process, which caused the worker to becometrapped between the metal lift and the bridge supports.

Crushing injuries in the construction workplace aresustained when a person's body or part of the body are caught between twoobjects that exert great pressure on the body. Amputations are often seen in such accidents.  In other cases, the damage to the nerves,blood vessels, muscles and tissue can lead to a condition called CompartmentSyndrome.  In this condition, there maybe bleeding, bruising, lacerations, smashed limbs, fractures, and nerve injury.  In many cases, surgery may be required totreat the injury.

The NewYork construction accident lawyers at Godosky and Gentile represent workersinjured in construction site accidents in New York City and around the state ofNew York.

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OSHA Unveils New Crane and Derrick Safety Standards
Posted by: William Gentile
August 23, 2010

Earlier this month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released its new standards for crane and derrick safety.  The rules are expected to take effect on 8 November.  The new rules come in response to growing concerns across the country over crane operations and safety.  New Yorkers have first-hand experience of the consequences of lagging crane safety standards, inadequate operator training and poor oversight.  That situation will hopefully change when the new standards take effect. The standards have been set in order to minimize the fatalities involved in electrocutions, crane collapses and incidents involving cranes falling and striking persons or objects.

According to David Michaels, who is OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor, the standards will prevent at least 20 construction worker fatalities every year in crane accidents, and will prevent many other injuries.  He estimates that implementing the new standards will save the industry more than $55 million a year.  When the new rules come into effect, they will cover approximately 267,000 construction and crane companies. 

The new rules include stricter standards for the certification and training of crane operators.  Under the new rules, persons involved in the rigging and other activities involved in crane operations, must also be qualified.  However, these persons don't necessarily have to be certified.  General contractors will now have to be responsible for maintaining appropriate ground conditions for safe operations of cranes.  Under the new rules, crane parts and components must be inspected before erection.  The new rules will also set standards for working around power lines.

When the new rules come into effect, it won’t automatically make crane operations safer. Training will prove to be a major challenge.  The crane industry employs nearly 4.8 million workers, and these will have to be trained and educated about the rules.  Besides, inspections and enforcement could prove another serious headache for OSHA, which battles with shortages of trained inspectors.  However, as New York construction accident lawyers, we believe that these rules are a firm step forward towards safer crane operations and use.

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Two Years after Deadly Accidents, New York Crane Safety Continues to Be in Question
Posted by: William Gentile
June 26, 2010

May 30 marked the second anniversary of the Manhattan crane collapse that killed two workers.

Families of the two workers kept vigil at the site of deadly construction accident that shocked Americans exactly 24 months ago. For them, the site at 91st St. and First Avenue will always involve painful memories of their loved ones. Both families are currently involved in litigation against a number of construction companies, the Department of Buildings, the city of New York and others responsible for the accident. Their claims focus on allegations that the crane that collapsed killing their loved ones, had been used in spite of a long record of safety issues. These problems were linked to poor maintenance and repairs.

Two years after the Manhattan collapse and another similar crane accident, New York construction accident attorneys still believe little has been done to assure workers that they are safe on these sites. Last week, we reported on the fact that a New York City crane inspector had admitted to receiving bribes from a construction company that was not involved in these accidents. While the Department of Buildings has been taking the issue of corruption a tad seriously since the collapses, there has still been painfully slow progress on a number of issues that New York construction accident lawyers are concerned about.

For instance, there is the fact that the city faces a shortage of qualified and experienced crane inspectors. This means that a large number of inspectors who are currently being put out there to inspect cranes, are not specially trained to look for crane safety issues. You don't have to be a New York construction accident lawyer know that this is a highly dangerous situation.

Other issues include the involvement of several city inspectors in the ownership of cranes. More measures need to be taken to ensure the independence of inspectors. We need more independent third-party crane inspectors in the city. As long as these problems continue to remain unaddressed, the lives of crane operators and construction workers in New York City continue to be at risk.

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Construction Hazards to Work on during National Safety Month
Posted by: William Gentile
June 26, 2010

Every year, in June, the National Safety Council encourages organizations, businesses and individuals to focus harder on safety. The month is designated as National Safety Month, and is meant to raise awareness about dangers in the home, on the roads and at work. As New York construction accident lawyers, we would encourage more efforts towards construction safety during this special safety month.

Anytime there is talk of workplace or industrial safety, topics of construction safety feature prominently on the list. The construction industry continues to be the deadliest workplace for Americans, and this shameful record is continued year after year. In 2009, construction safety hazards featured prominently on OSHA’s list of top 10 most frequently cited standards. They were also some of the most frequently and highly penalized citations in the same year.

This June, New York construction accident attorneys and federal safety agencies would encourage contractors, builders and other related companies to focus harder on some of the biggest killers in the construction industry, like scaffolding hazards. Every year, hundreds of workers are injured in accidents caused by unstable or defective scaffolding, or from injuries caused by construction materials and other debris that falls off scaffolding.

Other construction safety risks that continue to plague the industry, are fall hazards. It’s 2010, and there are all kinds of technologies and fall protection systems available to protect construction workers from falls. According to OSHA, the number of fatal fall accidents in the construction industry in 2008, dropped by about 20% compared to 2007. However, 2007 had been a particularly bad year for construction safety with 847 fall-related fatalities. In fact, fall accidents account for approximately 8% of all occupational deaths. When a construction worker is at a height of 6 feet or more, he needs to be equipped with fall protection gear. Such systems must be provided no matter what height the worker is on, if he is working above dangerous machinery or equipment.

Other construction safety risks that we need to focus on harder on minimizing are trench collapses, cave-ins, excavation accidents, and falls from ladders.

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Cocoon Safety System Protects World Trade Center Workers from Construction Accidents
Posted by: William Gentile
May 30, 2010

As work continues at the World Trade Center site, construction authorities are taking path breaking new steps to protect workers from fall accidents. The structure at One World Trade Center has now been equipped with a blue cage like device that will protect workers from falls. According to the World Trade Center construction authorities, this is the first time that a system like this has been used on any construction site in New York to protect workers from fall accidents.

Currently, the cocoon like structure stands four stories high. As construction work progresses and the buildings soars towards its 1,776 foot height, the device will also be hoisted upward, wrapping around the structure as it increases in height.

The cocoon will serve a double purpose. It will prevent workers from falling off the structure, and will also prevent construction materials from being blown off the building during high winds. The cocoon system consists of four floors of steel and fire assistant netting. There are also a number of other platforms to provide work spaces, and to protect workers from falls.

The World Trade Center project is a highly emotional one for New Yorkers in particular, and Americans at large. It is good to see that authorities are going a step further in providing safety measures for workers. Fall accidents are some of the most dangerous hazards on a construction site. The cocoon system and its installation only proves what New York construction accident lawyers have been saying all along - we are in the 21st century, and we have far too much technology at our disposal to continue to allow workers to die in preventable falls.

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