Construction Worker Killed in Long Island Tunnel Worksite

A contractor working in an underground tunnel was killed in a New York construction accident when a piece of dried concrete fell on him. According to a report in Newsday, the 26-year-old man was working on a project to link the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal. A piece of “shotcrete,” which is another name for a type of concrete placed on tunnel walls, fell on the worker. The man was working on the tunnel project with his father. The company said they plan to pay for the funeral costs. The Associated Press reports that more than 24 construction workers have died in tunnel projects in recent years.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are 3 million injury accidents and more than 1,000 deaths on construction sites every year. About 19 percent of all construction site accidents are a result of some kind of contact with objects or equipment. Falling objects at a work site can cause major injuries or even fatalities. Falling objects can include machinery, construction debris, or any equipment that has been hoisted up but not secured properly.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all employers to provide construction workers with safety gear including hard hats, vests, proper footwear and goggles, among other equipment. If an employer does not provide such necessary equipment and an accident occurs, that company may be held liable for any injuries the worker suffered.
OSHA requires employers to ensure the work environment is safe for all employees. Construction sites must be inspected by the company regularly and employers must make sure all employees have received adequate job and safety training. In such cases, workers’ families may file for workers compensation benefits from the employer. In some cases, negligence on the part of third parties may also cause or contribute to the accident. Examples of third parties include general contractors, sub-contractors, property owners and manufacturers of defective products. In such instances, the third party responsible for causing the accident may also be held liable.
If you or a loved has been injured in a New York construction accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you and your family better understand your legal rights and options. Please call our offices at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker who was injured on the job. We can also help with personal injury cases in 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.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.WORK4YOULAW
Source: Newsday