Construction accident deaths have reached the highest number in the last decade. A news report in Constructiondive.com states that 74 construction workers died in New York State in 2023 according to the most recently available data released by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) and 30 workers were killed in New York City construction accidents. This meant that both the city and the state saw the highest raw number of deaths in the last decade, the committee said in its report, which is compiled using numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New York City Department of Buildings.
What the Report States and Recommends
In 2023, New York City saw recorded a fatality rate of 11.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, which was up from 11.5 the year before. In 2020, New York City recorded 13 deaths, the lowest number in the last 10 years because of considerably slower activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistics also showed that a disproportionately high number of people who died in construction accidents were Latino.
In New York State, 26% of worker deaths were Latino, even though they make up only 10% of the state’s labor pool. The rate of Latino worker deaths in all industries nationwide were also higher than the nationwide rate for all workers. NYCOSH also noted that on jobsites where workers died, construction companies or contractors “had coinciding OSHA violations 74% of the time.” This meant that if a worker had died from a fall, the company had failed to provide training or implement fall protections.
NYCOSH’s report also carried multiple recommendations to improve worker safety. It recommends that municipalities across New York mandate construction training and certification, and remove all financial barriers for workers to receive such necessary training. The report also recommends that firms with repeat violations for egregious safety lapses should not be able to receive public benefits or work on federal or state construction projects. Negligent (careless) contractors’ licenses or permits should also be revoked and those with repeat violations should not be hired for projects, NYCOSH said. The report also calls on district attorneys to act against violators by enforcing Carlos’ Law, which raised minimum criminal penalties against corporations responsible for construction injuries or deaths to $500,000 and the maximum to $1 million.
Importance of Construction Worksite Safety
There are several ways in which construction companies and contractors can make a worksite safer including:
- Comprehensive safety training: Workers should receive thorough safety training on equipment use, hazard recognition and emergency procedures. Regular refresher courses help maintain awareness.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Proper PPE, including helmets, gloves, safety goggles, earplugs, high-visibility vests and steel-toed boots, should be provided for all workers.
- Regular safety inspections: Conducting frequent site inspections helps identify potential hazards and ensures compliance with safety standards. Promptly addressing unsafe conditions reduces the risk of construction site accidents.
- Fall protection measures: Falls are a leading cause of construction fatalities. Installing guardrails, harnesses and safety nets can prevent serious injuries.
- Proper equipment maintenance: Regular maintenance and inspection of heavy machinery, tools, and scaffolding ensure they function safely and reduce mechanical failures.
- Clear signage and communication: Posting warning signs and using clear communication methods such as radios and hand signals, help prevent miscommunications and accidents.
- Emergency preparedness: Having first aid kits, fire extinguishers and emergency response plans in place ensures quick action in case of an accident.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of hazards at a construction site, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/new-york-construction-fatalities/742002/