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Tag Archives: construction collapse

Work injuries at site of construction collapse

New York – A scaffold collapse in Manhattan left two workers injured. The wounded workmen fell from the scaffolding as it collapsed according to reports. They note that one of the victims suffered serious injuries during the work accident. The other accident victim’s injuries were still being assessed but appear to be less life threatening. It is unclear whether the injuries were caused by the fall from a height or rather from being crushed under the falling construction debris. Investigators were also looking in to the cause of the construction collapse to determine if safety precautions were in place. Worker safety is supposed to be the highest priority for employers of construction and renovation companies. However, some employers have been known to take shortcuts in order to save time and money in safety equipment and training. It appears that there was an issue with the building and inadequate maintenance of the scaffolding according to reports. Improper construction or negligent maintenance, especially at a dangerous construction zone, can place the safety, health and lives of workers and bystanders at risk. Workplace accidents are a common problem, especially at construction sites that work with heavy equipment, tall ladders and scaffolds as well as electrical tools such as drills, saws and hydraulic devices. There are also complicating factors such as poor lighting, uneven or broken sidewalks and pavement, and unsteady flooring and walls or even railings and stairs. These hazardous conditions can lead to slip and fall accidents, broken bones, neck and back injuries, heady injury or even wrongful death. Read up more about this construction accident here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Richard Munckton [License]

One worker injured, another killed in Midtown Manhattan construction accident

New York – Two workers were crushed in a construction accident this week. One was a security guard who was killed and the other a construction worker who suffered on-the-job injuries when an unstable section of glass fell on them. The scene of the accident was on a loading dock of a construction site on West 57th Street in Manhattan. The piece of glass was standing up and was supposed to be installed into a tall skyscraper office building. For an unknown reason, the heavy glass panel tipped over and collapsed onto the two workers below. The crush injuries suffered by the security guard left him with multiple and severe wounds, including internal injuries and possibly a traumatic brain injury. He went into cardiac arrest and was declared dead by doctors in the hospital shortly after. The second injured worker was also rushed from the scene to the emergency room and treated for several injuries, including broken bones with a foot injury. The type of fracture may require surgery to repair the damage according to doctors. The New York City building’s department shut down the construction site and issued a safety violation to owner of the site. Additional investigation into the cause of the construction collapse will be needed to determine if negligence was involved. This includes determining if all equipment and construction debris was properly secured to prevent slipping and falling. See this article for more details.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Rob Young [License]