Construction workers’ accidents: 1 more worker falls to his death

Following the death of yet another construction worker, a union leader urged the New York Council to mandate stricter safety training through legislation. He said most fatal construction workers’ accidents are avoidable, and city authorities agreed. According to the union leader, most of the victims of these tragedies are exploited nonunion workers who never received proper training.

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries, and it is alarming to see how employers disregard safety regulations — even knowing that it may cause fatalities. A 59-year-old worker fell to his death from the second floor of a Times Square construction site. Reportedly, the worker was standing on an 18-feet high I-beam when he lost his balance.

Officials said the victim wore a safety harness, but it was reportedly not tied down to arrest an accidental fall. If the employer made sure that a supervisor monitored employees’ compliance with safety regulations, a safety lanyard might have saved this man’s life. Emergency responders rushed the victim to the Mount Sinai West medical facility where he was declared dead.

Fatal construction workers’ accidents are naturally devastating to the surviving family members of the victims. Although it could never make up for lost lives, the death benefits offered by the New York workers’ compensation insurance system might ease the financial burdens brought about by these tragedies. With the guidance of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, benefits claims can be filed for coverage of funeral and burial costs along with financial assistance in the form of a wage-replacement package to assist with day-to-day expenses for a predetermined period.

Source: New York Daily News, “Construction worker dies in ‘preventable’ fall at Manhattan site“, Molly Crane-Newman, John Annese, Greg B. Smith, Mary McDonnell, Rocco Parascandola, Ginger Adams Otis, April 12, 2017