State and federal safety officials make it very clear: Falls are one of the deadliest types of accidents on construction sites. Despite this, fall protection standards were the most common type of violation in the industry during the most recent fiscal year, according to federal data.
In Brooklyn, a 45-year-old worker is lucky to be alive after a dangerous fall, the latest incident on a work site with a troubling recent history.
A 15-foot fall down a shaft
The New York Daily News reports the 45-year-old was working on a high-profile project, two 21-story residential buildings being erected on Surf Avenue in Coney Island. While on the first floor one August morning, the worker in question fell down an open shaft.
The man plummeted about 15 feet before hitting the floor. Conscious but suffering from back pain, he was hospitalized in stable condition. The Department of Buildings halted work on the project so the incident can be investigated.
The third reported injury of the summer
The 45-year-old’s fall is the third injury incident at this particular work site in the span of four months.
In May of 2019 a worker lost consciousness while on the job and fell. He was evaluated at the hospital, according to the Daily News. The following month, a worker fell off a ramp and wound up pinned between a cart and part of the building. Fortunately, neither appeared to suffer serious injuries.
Overall the Department of Buildings has investigated 17 complaints on the project, with six of those relating to construction accidents.
Injured workers may feel the effects of an accident for months or years, potentially even a lifetime. This can be especially true with back and spinal injuries, which can have devastating consequences.
Construction companies and contractors have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for construction workers. Yet that does not always happen. In cases where proper safety protection was not provided, victims or loved ones should contact an experienced construction injury attorney to see if they can pursue financial benefits through a personal injury claim.
Nothing will restore life to the way it was prior to the accident, but knowing certain expenses will be taken care of, and providing money damages for pain and suffering, can help provide some peace of mind.
