In November two construction workers were killed in Queens after a crane cable split and dropped a 6,500 pound steel beam. This recent tragedy was the breaking point for city officials after the rising string of construction worker deaths throughout New York City. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito stated that the City Council must reform New York's construction safety.
How will NYC handle the rise of construction deaths and injuries?
New OSHA standards aim to reduce falling accidents
Falls are still the leading cause of construction fatality
Construction Worker Killed after Part of Crane Breaks Off
A 43-year-old construction worker was killed when part of a crane broke off and fell onto his head.
NYC Buildings Department Issues Violation, Stop Work Order on Crane Operator
The New York City Buildings Department has issued a violation and a stop work order on April 25 after a cherry picker smashed into the side of an apartment building.
New York Times Expose Reveals the Number of Construction Site Accidents to the Rate of Building is Disproportionate and "Completely Avoidable"
A recent New York Times article culminated two years of investigations into construction site accidents calling many of them "completely avoidable." Where the rate of building increased throughout the city by 11% in the last fiscal year, the rate of accidents in the industry had risen 52%. The disproportionality is astounding and led the Times to take a closer look at the reasons behind it.
Construction Accidents on the Rise in NYC
There have been eight fatalities at construction sites in NYC since the beginning of 2015. The most recent tragedy occurred when a man was killed at a construction site in Manhattan due to the malfunction of a delivery truck boom. Unlike larger cranes, the city does not regulate the small booms that are attached to delivery trucks. Another recent accident occurred when a 22 year old construction worker was buried in dirt up to his neck at a work site in Manhattan. The following day, four workers were killed at another site when a bannister collapsed during an interior demolition.
