Two workers were injured in a construction accident after a gas tank exploded at a 37-story landmark building in Midtown. According to a report in the New York Post, the workers were using a Sawzall cutting tool to open a box storing an acetylene tank on the 34th floor of 550 Madison Avenue when sparks from the blade ignited the blast. Hazmat units were called to the building to secure the tank. The leak was shut down, FDNY officials said.
Serious Injuries
Both the injured workers were transported to area hospitals and were listed in serious but stable condition. A third worker was also injured, but refused medical attention FDNY officials said. An inspection by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) found that the gas tank was being stored in a gang box that was not properly secured and had leaked, leading to the explosion.
The department determined that the contractor had failed to comply with FDNY regulations. Inspectors issued violations in addition to a partial stop work order at the location for any “hot work,” which means any type of work that produces flames or sparks. DOB investigators also found that an elevator being used for construction operations at the site had an expired permit, prompting a separate partial stop work order. Our thoughts and prayers are with the workers who have been injured in this construction accident. We wish them the very best for a speedy and full recovery.
What Causes Explosions at Construction Sites?
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), explosions and fires at construction sites injure thousands of people every year in the United States. When an explosion at a worksite is caused by negligence (carelessness), the injured worker may be able to file an injury lawsuit for his or her injuries, damages and losses.
Explosions often occur as a result of safety violations. Some of the most common causes of explosions at construction sites include improper storage of flammable materials, improper ventilation and gas leaks. Chemical explosions and fires/explosions from arc flashes and blasts are also common, but preventable, at worksites. Regardless of what caused an explosion, it is very likely that some type of negligence (carelessness) was behind it.
In these types of cases, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the explosion in order to determine fault. If you were injured in a construction site explosion, it is in your best interests to speak immediately with an experienced New York construction accident attorney. Contacting your lawyer right away can help them preserve evidence crucial to your case that might otherwise be lost.
Construction Accident Lawsuits
Workers injured in construction accidents can bring civil actions against the construction company, contractor and property owner/manager, etc. responsible for the safety of the jobsite. Construction accident injuries can be debilitating and sometimes, even catastrophic or fatal. A construction accident victim can seek workers’ compensation benefits from his or her employer. In addition, workers and their families may be able to file a third-party lawsuit for substantial money damages against a number of parties, and thus have two sources of compensation.
Third-party claims are filed against parties other than the employer or co-employees and may include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents, construction companies, etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, his or her family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party.
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. For over 51 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.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://nypost.com/2023/07/12/2-construction-workers-hurt-in-gas-tank-explosion-at-nyc-landmark-office-building-officials/