In February of 2016, construction workers at 60 Hudson Street in New York City were attempting to secure a crane crawler. The construction workers had become concerned about high winds and snowy conditions. As the workers were in the process of attempting to secure the crane, the crane buckled. This resulted in the crane crashing down the street. It crashed into at least one vehicle and killed a 38-year old man who was sitting in his car on his commute to work. The collapsing crane also sent debris raining down on the heads of those nearby, causing three others to be injured.
As a result of this tragic accident, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new safety measures applicable to the construction industry. Hopefully, the new safety rules will help to prevent deadly crane accidents in the future. If such accidents happen and construction workers get hurt, they can turn to a New York workers’ compensation law firm for help. The firm can assist construction workers in reporting injuries as required to make a claim and can oversee the claims process until the plaintiff is satisfied with the outcome of the workers’ comp case. If the injured victim believes any third-party non-employers contributed to causing the crane accident, the attorney can also bring a civil lawsuit.
Crane Collapse Leads to Improved Safety Efforts
Bill de Blasio gave a press conference shortly after the deadly crane collapse occurred. According toa previous Real Estate Weekly Online article, he indicated there were safeguards or precautions in place to prevent crane collapses that have worked in the past. However, he also indicated there was room for improvement. To that end, he announced a new four-point plan designed to increase safety efforts in situations where large cranes are being operated. The four-point plan includes:
- Imposing new regulations and requirements for the operation of crawler cranes during situations where the wind is blowing hard
- Doubling fines when construction companies fail to properly safeguard their equipment
- Promulgating new rules related to enforcement of pedestrian safety in areas near where cranes are located
- New notification requirements demanding that adjacent buildings be kept informed of crane activities in construction work
Hopefully these efforts will help prevent nearby passersby (or others unaffiliated with the construction) from getting hurt. The new safety efforts also aim to provide protection to workers who may be at risk of encountering and getting hurt by a crane. Unfortunately, it is workers who have to do the dangerous job of dealing with the cranes when the wind is blowing and the weather is bad. That said, these workers could find themselves at great risk of being hurt.
When a crane collapse happens, those who are passing by or adjacent to the area, as well as those who are not working at the time, could pursue a civil lawsuit against those responsible for injuries or fatalities. In such instances, the victims would have to prove the elements of a personal injury claim. If a construction worker gets hurt, however, the worker can make a workers’ compensation case as long as he or she can prove the injury was due to the performance of work duties. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, a New York workers’ compensation law firm, can explain your rights further and provide assistance.
