Early Tuesday morning, a construction worker plunged fifteen feet to the bottom of a deep trench on a construction site located on East 20th Street. The man was working inside a pit completing waterproofing work when he suddenly slipped and tumbled off the ladder he was using. Poor weather, including severe rainfall, created challenging work conditions and even more challenging rescue efforts.
Just moments after the worker fell, the New York City Fire Department arrived to retrieve him from the bottom of the trench. Firefighters worked in torrential rain to create a rope and pulley system that assisted them in ascending the victim to safety.
Once lifted to the streets of Gramercy Park, first responders transported the conscious worker via ambulance to Bellevue Hospital. There, he was hospitalized for injuries to his head and leg. The severity of the damages incurred is unclear at this time.
The unidentified construction worker was working on the development of a condominium set to stretch 19 stories, developed by Glacier Global Properties and constructed by CM & Associates Construction Management. Construction had only just begun progressing before the tragic accident that ensued on Tuesday, for which the Department of Buildings has provided several safety violations. The department alleges that the worker was not working on a proper platform, likely leading to the horrific fall that left him with head and leg injuries.
In light of this, the Department of Buildings has issued a partial stop-work order for waterproofing work conducted on the site until such work platforms are provided to the workers.
The Danger of Falls on Construction Sites
Much like the one that occurred on Tuesday in Gramercy Park, falls account for most fatal construction site accidents. It is known as the most dangerous of what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration calls the “Fatal Four,” alongside electrocutions, crushing, and object strikes, a term that describes the four deadliest occurrences on job sites.
In 2017, falls were the cause of 39.2% of all construction fatalities. Falls are a common occurrence in the construction field due to workers operating on various terrain, working with complex equipment, and frequently ascending to a significant height, frequently without fall protection. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries concluded that 275 construction workers lose their lives to serious falls each year.
If you are a construction worker, you can act preventatively by holding your employer accountable for site safety. Your employer is responsible for ensuring that their employees are protected from harm by inspecting all equipment, clearing slippery or debris-ridden surfaces, providing and maintaining tools, and training their employees to prevent serious injury.
Legal Help for Job Site Accidents
Unfortunately, many employers believe that they can get away with neglecting the safety of their employees for the sake of convenience and cutting costs. This belief results in the injury and death of countless workers and bystanders each year. You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have been injured due to your employer failing to provide a safe work environment.
The personal injury lawyers of Block O’Toole & Murphy have years of experience in recovering significant financial compensation for clients injured after falling on the job, including:
- $12,000,000 settlement for a 45-year-old tunnel worker who fell down a shaft while working in a subway tunnel, causing severe orthopedic and neurologic injuries
- $6,793,881 verdict for a 35-year-old union “journeyman” laborer who was impaled after the city failed to remove sharp hazards from the site he was working on
- $6,400,000 settlement for a 37-year-old structural steel subcontractor who suffered scalp lacerations, bulging discs, and a fractured tailbone after falling through a drop ceiling
To receive a free consultation, contact a Block O’Toole & Murphy lawyer today at 212-736-5300 or fill out our Contact Form. We serve New York and New Jersey.