On May 13, 2020, a fire extinguisher exploded in a Manhattan building, killing a construction worker and severely injuring another. The explosion happened in a building located on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea.
According to the first responders and medical crews who reached the incident site, the explosion took place on the building’s fourth floor. One of the workers was pronounced dead, and the other was shifted to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. The incident has highlighted the many dangers surrounding construction work in NYC.
On May 13, 2020, a fire extinguisher exploded in a Manhattan building, killing a construction worker and severely injuring another. The explosion happened in a building located on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea.
According to the first responders and medical crews who reached the incident site, the explosion took place on the building’s fourth floor. One of the workers was pronounced dead, and the other was shifted to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. The incident has highlighted the many dangers surrounding construction work in NYC.
Construction Work: Risks and Safety Hazards
Construction workers are exposed to many risks and safety hazards. The likelihood of on-site accidents is a lot higher than most other professions due to the work’s nature.
It’s a challenging field, almost comparable to tiptoeing across a minefield. The number of yearly casualties and injuries taking place in NYC’s construction industry is alarmingly high.
Here are some of the potential hazards faced by NYC construction workers:
- Construction sites being located at great heights
- Incomplete building projects
- Working with heavy equipment (operators are susceptible to injuries if enough care is not taken)
- Operating around unsecured electrical wiring (risk of electrocution)
- Untrained coworkers
- Working within close proximity to flammable and explosive materials
- Mistakes by coworkers
- Using faulty machinery
These are just some of the leading danger variables that workers have to keep an eye out for at construction sites. But, the odd of an exploding fire-extinguisher is an example of unprecedented and unpredictable hazards that can occur at construction sites.
Who is Responsible for Construction Site Accidents?
Considering that construction is a dangerous field, it is a highly regulated sector in the United States. But for construction workers, the high risks do not equal the given rewards. While construction work isn’t exactly a lucrative profession, the industry employs millions of workers across the US.
According to the New York State Comptroller’s office, employment in the state’s construction sector reached 398,400 jobs in 2018 – a record 30% growth from 2010. NYC accounted for 50% of all the new construction jobs added from 2010 to 2018.
More people working in the construction industry means more possible accidents. But who is responsible for accidents at construction sites? The primary responsibility of workers’ safety lies with the construction company, followed by equipment manufacturers and site supervisors.
NYC imposes strict rules and regulations on employers to ensure the safety of workers in such high-risk environments. Furthermore, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also provide construction workers with their due rights and protections. Sadly, employers do not take enough safety precautions at times.
There have been cases where construction companies have failed to employ qualified personnel and even worked with unreliable contractors. The risk of on-site accidents multiplies under these conditions, exposing workers to potential risks of death and severe injuries.
The Legal Aspect
If you were injured in a construction accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Or if one of your family members was killed at a construction site, their legal heirs can file a lawsuit for compensation. In any case, it is vital to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to file a strong lawsuit against those responsible.
Accident lawyers NYC specialize in different cases. Hiring a lawyer who specializes in your type of case will increase your chance of securing compensation. Depending on the nature of your case, you may hire a personal injury attorney, a burn injury lawyer, a car accident attorney, a wrongful death attorney, or even a pedestrian injury lawyer.
Contact a personal injury lawyer in NYC to determine whether it is feasible to file a lawsuit.
