New York City’s building officials are enforcing new safety regulations for cranes following a two-year investigation into the partial crane collapse that injured several people in Midtown in 2023. According to a report in the Gothamist, under these new rules, diesel-powered tower cranes now must have fire suppression and detection systems and people in charge of operating and supervising these machines must also meet more stringent experience qualifications.
What the Two-Year Investigation Found
These new regulations come after the investigation into a July 2023 construction accident involving a crane collapse on Manhattan’s West Side. The crane was lifting 14,000 pounds of concrete atop a 45-story construction project on 10th Avenue and West 40th Street when a fire broke out on the crane’s deck. This weakened the structure supporting its 165-foot boom, which then came loose and plummeted to the ground, the investigation found. A report released last week determined that the fire started when flammable hydraulic oil sprayed out of a disconnected hose near the crane’s engine compartment and made contact with the hot surface on the deck.
The fire quickly intensified and the operator could not put it out using the on-deck fire extinguisher, the report said. While the operator was able to climb down to safety, other construction workers were injured as the wire rope holding up the boom gave way. Since the street below was largely empty at the time, no one was seriously injured.
The Department of Buildings issued four safety violations to the project’s general contractor and construction company. The probe also looked at similar collapses involving cranes from the same manufacturer. After two incidents in Australia in 2012 and 2016, the company had recommended measures to their customers to help prevent crane fires and boom failures. DOB officials found that none of those safety recommendations were being followed at the Midtown construction site.
Compensation for Injured Workers
Crane safety violations and negligence (carelessness) on the part of the site owner, contractor, operator etc. can significantly affect an injured worker’s claim and increase the potential benefits they can receive. When a contractor, construction company or other responsible party fails to follow required safety standards such as proper crane inspection, certified operator training, load-limit compliance or maintaining safe distances from power lines — these violations can serve as evidence that the accident was preventable.
When a construction worker is injured on the job, the first line of financial protection is usually workers’ compensation. This system provides benefits regardless of fault, covering medical expenses, a portion of lost wages and rehabilitation costs. In cases of permanent disability, workers’ compensation may also provide long-term or lifetime benefits. However, workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering and benefits are often limited compared to the full extent of losses. The large verdicts and settlements occur when others are sued in third-party cases.
In some situations, injured workers may also pursue a third-party lawsuit in addition to workers’ compensation. These claims arise when someone other than the employer or co-employees — such as a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to the accident. For example, if a defective crane caused injuries and damages, the manufacturer may be held liable. Third-party lawsuits can provide compensation for damages not covered by workers’ compensation, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and full lost earnings.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you have suffered injuries in a construction-related accident, 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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
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://gothamist.com/news/nyc-enforcing-new-safety-rules-for-cranes-after-2-year-probe-into-midtown-collapse