Construction Accidents

4 die in preventable construction accident

2010-01-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

Four construction workers plunged to their deaths when a swingstage collapsed. Another worker was critically injured.

Wearing a safety harness could've saved their lives.

Workers who are immigrants may not speak English well enough to understand safety instructions. And do what they must to keep their jobs.

Someone is clearly not responsible for overseeing the safety of their workforce.

Then the big guy in charge fails to come forward and take responsibility.

Immigrant construction workers are treated differently than the general public.

Putting food on the table should not be a death sentence.

Asphalt Roller Kills Employee in Construction Accident

2009-09-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

A 57-year-old man died when the asphalt roller he was driving toppled over and crushed him.

The worker was operating an asphalt roller when the accident occurred at a bridge construction. According to witnesses, the man was operating the roller and then hopped off the roller. The machine toppled on its side and landed on the employee.

Workers were finishing the project by performing asphalt work and installing guardrails and landscaping when the accident occurred.

Steel Beam Kills Construction Worker

2009-08-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

A 21-year-old man who only had worked at the rail construction site for five days died when a 30-foot steel beam slid off a forklift then struck him in the head and stomach.

The man died five hours later.

The accident is under investigation. No other details are available at this time.

The man's partner was six months pregnant.

2009-07-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

The University of Michigan is being sued by the family of a 31-year-old construction worker who died while on the job at the school of business construction site.

The deceased fell five stories down an empty elevator shaft. The family is alleging that the University failed to provide adequate safety measures.

The family is asking for more than $25,000 in damages from the University, the deceased's employer, general contractor, and the electric company which provided lighting at the construction site.

The lawsuit contends there was inadequate lighting for the elevator shaft, elevator car and elevator lobbies.

There have been two other fatal construction accidents on campus in the last 16 months.

Danger, Danger: Construction Work Accidents

2009-02-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

A few months ago, a construction workers died when the lift he was working on fell. While falling, the lift got tangled in some high voltage electrical wires and the worker was electrocuted. The utility company had to cut power lines before the lift could be moved and the man’s body recovered.

In another construction accident, two men were in the basket of a lift, installing aluminum panels on some new buildings. While the cause is still unknown the lift fell, causing the two men to fall nearly 30 feet. One construction worker immediately lost his life, the other was severely injured and later succumbed to death.

Scaffold Collapse Construction Accident Kills Three

2009-01-29T13:08:00.000-08:00

Talk about a scaffolding accident waiting to happen – and it did.

This is what happens when there is no oversight to inspecting scaffolding. No city or state entity is proactive and the federal OSHA only inspects when there is an accident.

In 2006, a three ton scaffold collapsed on busy street killing three victims -- two construction workers and a doctor who was driving by plus flattened several cars. OSHA had previously fined the two companies responsible. They paid their fines and are considered to be “good” companies regarding safety but what qualifies them for a good rating?

How is it that a might structure like a scaffold can slips through the crack for inspections?

There are millions of dollars in damages and three people are dead. Will these construction companies still have a good rating?

Philadelphia Construction Accident

2009-01-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

It was a day for miracles.

At a local Philadelphia construction site, a 4,100 pound slab fell from the back of a truck and landed on a construction worker's pelvic area.

Fellow coworkers sprang into action and lifted the slab.

Imagine the adrenalin pumping.

Last reported the injured construction worker was in stable condition with a broken hip. It could've been far worse but it sounds like the worker still needs a good construction accident lawyer by his side.

Pipe falls from trailer killing Pennsylvania man

2008-12-27T22:13:00.000-08:00

A Pennsylvania man was killed when a 600-pound pipe fell from a semitrailer and crushed him as he stood alongside a trailer. The construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Details of the accident are sketchy.

Workers nearby were working on an apartment complex under construction. The construction accident will be investigated.

How Dangerous Is Construction Work?

2008-12-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

Every year construction workers are injured by the thousands.

Construction work poses many risks: Power tools, heavy equipment, heights and electricity all come together to threaten the safety of construction workers, not to mention the risk of musculoskeletal injury posed by awkward lifting and repetitive actions.

Ironworkers make up a smal percentage of full-time construction workers, but they account for the highest rate of nonfatal injuries or illnesses. Ironworkers work at great heights and their chance of injury due to falling is greater. They almost always work with power tools, which further exposes them to danger.

Unskilled laborers find themselves near the top of the injury list, along with truck drivers. Those who have received little training in the safety and ergonomics required to successfully perform injury-free construction have a much greater chance of engaging in risky behaviors on the job site. Truck drivers also have to contend with the risk of being hurt in vehicle collisions.

For fatal construction accidents, ironworkers lead the pack. They are followed by roofers as the next closest in terms of work-related deaths posed by heights and falls. Welders and cutters, unskilled laborers and truck drivers round out the top five.

Electricians, plumbers, painters, carpenters, brickmasons, and drywall installers are all below the average occupational fatality rate found in construction work, indicating that their primary health risks are related to musculoskeletal injuries which are not life threatening.

Construction Accident: Excavator Fatality

2008-11-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

A 62-year-old man was killed by his business partner when he got trapped between the rear bed of his truck and an excavator.

The two pieces of heavy machinery equipment were working near each other and with all that noise would not be able to hear a warning.

What a tragedy.

Construction Accident Prevention

2008-11-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

Break neck industrial growth has brought with it a corresponding increase in construction accidents or work related hazards and injuries. The causes are too numerous to list, but injuries caused by human errors and design flaws can undeniably be eliminated.

Here is an illustrative example: Construction accident at Iowa wind farm -- During the course of construction work at an Iowa wind farm in the summer of 1997, a 36-year-old employee for a crane service company was killed while he was working on top of a portable tower crane.

The sequence of events leading to the ghastly accident follows:
1. The tower crane was preparing to install a 20-ton generator on top of a 140-foot windmill column.
2. The victim was standing on the crane platform charging the battery for the winch engine.
3. Suddenly the right outrigger of the crane slid off its footing and the entire crane fell and crashed on the ground.
4. The victim was killed instantly.

The concerned agencies did a thorough investigation as to the cause of the accident and the following recommendations were made:
• Portable cranes must be set up with extreme care.
• Workers and supervisors must meticulously check the alignments stipulated in the crane’s manual.
• Tower cranes must be provided with additional anchorage.
• The construction agency must properly assess the suitability of a crane for each specific job.

The construction accident described above is a case in point that illustrates how proper preventive measures would have avoided the tragic occurrence.

NYC Takes Steps to Prevent Construction Accidents

2008-11-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

Construction site accidents are nothing new. In fact, they are unfortunate occurrences that happen all over the country, almost every day. Despite numerous regulations set up by OSHA, construction workers are getting hurt and even dying due on a regular basis.

But recently, there has been an increase in these events with a spate of crane accidents across New York City that claimed the lives of at least nine people.

Investigations have been opened and questions are being asked about whom to blame. It's become clear that negligence is playing a role somewhere, either at the government or contract level. As new construction projects start up in the city, a few preventive steps have been taken by the city council to avoid any further problems.

The New York City Council wasted no time in passing a package of bills in an attempt to prevent further accidents. The bills are said to cover a wide range of safety topics that would include citing immediate violations. These violations would include falling risks, loose debris, and keeping combustible materials in an unsafe manner. One bill will deal with structural building inspections to ensure there hasn't been a fire or any other elemental damage to the buildings. Another bill will focus on retaining walls and having mandatory structural inspections every five years. While these are certainly positive steps for preventing further construction accidents, there is still a lot more that needs to be done.

The unpalatable truth is that it took nine deaths in these recent crane accidents for these bills to come to the table.

Construction Site Accidents Happen

2008-10-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

The thing is -- the majority of construction accidents can be prevented.

All too often the investment company, heavy equipment operating company, contractors, and subcontractors are all focused on the bottom line when they should be more focused on construction worker safety, machinery and equipment safety, and pedestrian safety when appropriate.

Employers and subcontractors have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide everyone with a place to work where conditions are safe, people are as valued as profit, workers are properly trained, and have access to required safety equipment.

No short cuts allowed.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Every year thousands of contruction workers die or become permanently injured and disabled because of lack of proper training or access to safey equipment.

Many construction workers do not speak or understand English and are not being trained in their native language or are afraid to speak out about unsafe working conditions. After all construction is still a macho working environment.

If your husband, father, brother, or loved one has been seriously injured or lost his life in a construction accident, finding the right lawyer to handle your construction accident case is crucial.

You will want to retain a law firm who has already handled many construction accident lawsuit cases successfully relating to defective scaffolds, falls on the job, falls through roofs, ladder injuries, being electrocuted, defective machinery and heavy equipment like cranes and forklifts.

Find out what your legal options are.

2008-10-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

Construction site safety issues have been around for a long time. Even today, it seems as if accidents that shouldn't be happening are instead on the rise. Mostly these accidents and fatalities happen due to employer negligence. Not only are the workers affected by these accidents, but they are also often unaware about what they are entitled to.

Remember that construction accidents aren't just cuts and bruises -- contamination and exposure to chemicals and other hazardous materials are also harmful for workers. When it comes to construction site safety, many workers don't even know they are working in risky conditions. This is why when something goes wrong, they rarely think about taking legal action.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated a number of regulations that all workers must know about. Whether you work with chemicals or heavy equipment, there are certain guidelines to be followed. As OSHA continues to perform regular research into working conditions and employee problems, their sets of regulations get revised from time to time.

Another disheartening fact is some employers are repeat violators when it comes to ensuring safety precautions at the work site. By learning more about construction site safety, workers can be better educated about what their employers should be doing for improved construction worker security. They could also determine how to take action in the case of employer negligence.

Crane Accidents in the Construction Business

2008-10-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Construction accidents are one of those happenings that seem to occur as a matter of course. In the early part of the century, a site injury or even a death was quickly covered up and the worker replaced.

Today, the government has taken steps to make construction a safer field for people to work. Unfortunately, this move hasn't really done much to lower the numbers of accidents and fatalities.

In the recent times, construction accidents involving cranes seem to be on the rise. The crane collapse incidents in both Houston and New York have unnerved people, especially because both these construction sites were major projects. In 2006, reports show that nearly 72 people died because of crane-related accidents. But other reports show a far more disturbing trend--an official with the Crane Operators Union in Manhattan claimed that he believed a third of those employed could not even operate a crane properly.

Crane operators are often paid more than the other construction workers, but in some cases, they lack the necessary training. So who should be blamed? Fingers are pointing at a number of places. Some people blame OSHA for not instigating tougher regulations earlier. Others blame corruption, unions and the city governments. As construction continues to increase in the cities, it looks as if construction accidents too will be on the rise. Regrettably, in the case of crane accidents, workers as well as passers-by are often the ones who take the hit.

Construction Site Accident and Lawsuit Intimidation

2008-10-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

If you are threatened after filing a lawsuit, inform your attorney immediately.

Let's say you are injured in a construction site accident. You may have been injured to such a degree that your workman's compensation insurance will never cover all your expenses. Obviously, any costs not covered by workman's comp will come out of your pocket. As a result, you will have to pay for medical costs as well as all costs associated with being out of work. This is why many people will opt to file a lawsuit against their employer when they have been injured on the job.

No employer would be happy to be on the receiving end of a construction site accident lawsuit. This is why they will procure the services of their own legal team to fight the litigation. This is expected and should come as no surprise. However, some employers will take their actions further and may even possibly threaten retaliation against an employee who files a lawsuit. Such actions would be quite egregious and, in some cases, illegal. No employer has the right to threaten or attempt to extort behavior out of an employee under any circumstances. Yet, there are those below board companies that will attempt exactly this.

If you are threatened with physical harm or any other type of illegal threat while filing a lawsuit, it is critical that you inform your attorney. Again, threats or coercion of any kind are illegal. As such, there is a proper legal mechanism in place for dealing with such threats. A qualified attorney will understand how to proceed when such actions are taken. It would be ill advised to try and settle the matter without your attorney's knowledge. Yet, some try to diffuse the situation. The situation, however, will not be diffused under these circumstances. In fact, the situation may get worse. So, let your attorney provide advice for how to deal with such a scenario.

Construction Site Accidents: Get Educated

2008-10-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Construction site safety issues have been around for a long time. Even today, it seems as if accidents that shouldn't be happening are instead on the rise. Mostly these accidents and fatalities happen due to employer negligence.

Not only are the workers affected by these accidents, but they are also often unaware about what they are entitled to. Remember that construction accidents aren't just cuts and bruises -- contamination and exposure to chemicals and other hazardous materials are also harmful for workers. When it comes to construction site safety, many workers don't even know they are working in risky conditions.

This is why when something goes wrong, they rarely think about taking legal action. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated a number of regulations that all workers must know about. Whether you work with chemicals or heavy equipment, there are certain guidelines to be followed. As OSHA continues to perform regular research into working conditions and employee problems, their sets of regulations get revised from time to time. Another disheartening fact is some employers are repeat violators when it comes to ensuring safety precautions at the work site. By learning more about construction site safety, workers can be better educated about what their employers should be doing for improved construction worker security. They could also determine how to take action in the case of employer negligence.

Safety: Ladders and Construction Site Accidents

2008-10-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Construction sites are responsible for maintaining ladder safety.

15 feet is a long way to fall. This is why construction workers who work at a construction site must always be confident with the equipment they use while working from heights. Probably the most important piece of equipment is a ladder. Simply put, an unsafe ladder can prove catastrophic to anyone working on a construction site.

It would be safe to say that one of the most important pieces of equipment at a construction site is a ladder. You might scoff at this assessment mainly because ladders are taken for granted. How can a construction site operate if it does not have a ladder? Taking the presence of the ladder seriously is not the same thing as ascertaining its safety. It’s also important to properly maintain a ladder because if the ladder is not safe -- then severe injuries can result.

All that is necessary to maintain the safety of the ladder is to make minor repairs. Then again, simply replacing the ladder when it has reached the point of no return in terms of age and wear would be wise as well. Unfortunately, too many people ignore a ladder's condition and opt not to maintain a proper level of ladder safety. It’s bad news when a company doesn’t maintain the safety of its equipment and is liable for injuries that might occur in the form of a construction site accident.

When this happens, the construction site is plagued by a multitude of lawsuits. Yet, many construction sites do take such risks. Why? Because they feel they can save money by cutting corners. This places employees at risk. So, while many construction sites might not maintain safety, there is legal recourse to deal with them.

U.S. Crane Industry Needs a Safety Makeover

2008-09-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

There’s been too many high profile fatal crane accidents this year and in 2006. Members of the crane industry got together as a way to make crane safety a priority. According to the movers and shakers in the crane industry, the media sensationalized the negative but this meeting was a way to talk about the negatives and work toward some positives.

In Florida there was a push by many local counties to draft and try and pass regulations around cranes. Unfortunately, each county has different compliance. Not all the proposed regulations made sense or increased safety.

High profile crane accidents have occurred in Miami, Oklahoma, Las Vegas and to crane accidents in tony Manhattan.

The crane industry should not hide or pretend there is not a problem but should instead confront it head on. But the real crane safety goal is no accidents and no fatalities.

Hardhats and Construction Injuries

2008-09-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

Faulty hardhats and equipment can lead to a negligence suit if injury results.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to construction site accidents. For example, a poorly built structure could collapse and cause serious injury to the workers on the construction site. Such large scale disasters are rare. More often than not, minor problems lead to injuries.

When working on a construction site, workers are provided with a hardhat. This is done for a reason: Hardhats protect workers from serious head injuries. It’s not impossible to be struck by an object when working on a busy construction site. Worksites can be chaotic at times so objects and tools could fall from above. A hardhat often reduces or eliminates the impact of an object. It’s critical that the job site provide properly maintained hardhats.

It is the construction site's responsibility to provide hardhats that are in good condition. If employees are presented with hardhats that are in poor condition then the construction site is putting employees at risk. This means that construction sites may be liable for any injuries that result from the improper equipment. It is critical that the construction site look out for the welfare of employees and providing faulty equipment would be a major dereliction in this regard. In the aftermath of such dereliction, those in charge of the construction site might find themselves liable for significant damages.

Management has a duty to make sure no harm befalls its employees in the form of a construction site accident. Once again, since many accidents are minor calamities that can result in major harm it is often equipment that protects workers from serious injuries. When the management of a construction site derelicts in this duty they will face consequences. This is why most sites ensure safety equipment is in solid shape. Construction sites that don’t put safety first face serious legal repercussions.

Negotiating Workplace Settlements

2008-09-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone injured in the workplace should not negotiate a settlement without a qualified attorney.

"Don't worry about it. Trust us."

Such words are commonly spoken to those who have been injured in the workplace. Usually, it is the employer trying to dissuade the injured party from pursuing legal recourses for injury compensation. Sometimes, an employer may even suggest that the employee does not need legal representation to negotiate the settlement. While this sounds like an easy way to receive compensation, it would not be wise to negotiate a settlement without proper legal counsel.

If you have been injured in a construction site accident how do you know what you should be awarded in damages? You really can't because without a background in the law, it is impossible to properly assess damages. There are a number of serious legal questions that need to be asked to arrive at a figure and only a practicing attorney is truly qualified to do this. So, to dismiss the importance of legal reputation due to pressure from an employer a desire for expediency would be a huge mistake.

Professional attorneys who have a background in workplace accidents understand all the components that comprise a proper settlement negotiation. Without such knowledge, one could not properly arrive at an acceptable settlement figure. (This is why an employer might seek to circumvent dealing with an attorney) When you make decisions from a limited knowledge base you are only hurting your cause. In fact, you might cheat yourself out of the correct amount of damages that you could receive. Only a qualified attorney can make a judgment as to the degree of liability present or what would constitute a proper settlement offer. Once again, seeking a settlement without legal representation from a construction site accident is not in your best interest. After all, some things such as legal representation are best left to qualified professionals.

Construction Site Crane Accidents

2008-09-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Cranes need extra attention to operate safely

Is the old cliché of the wrecking ball unexpectedly smashing into a home still used in cartoons? While this silly cliché is often good for a few laughs there is really nothing funny about construction site accidents. While most construction site accidents are minor, there are those incidents that come with extreme potential for loss of life or limb. Often, when heavy equipment is involved, the potential for serious injury is raised significantly. This is the case with the operation of cranes. Cranes serve a number of purposes with the most important -- the ability to lift heavy objects. Of course, it’s critical that cranes are maintained properly. If not, then the potential for a hazardous construction site accident occurs.

A crane is no different from a car in the sense that the more you use it, the more the equipment is degraded. Gears wear down and hydraulics will lose quite a bit of their power over the years. This should come as no surprise and is the main reason why proper inspection of equipment should occur. Yet, there will be those construction sites that do not invest the time to inspect their equipment. What is most unfortunate here is that standard inspections can be performed quite easily so not performing such inspections is really inexcusable. When dealing with heavy operational equipment such as cranes, this could prove quite dangerous.

If you have been injured in a crane related accident, do you have any recourse? Depending upon the severity of your injuries you may very well have the basis for a work site related lawsuit. In so, it would be best to discuss your options with an attorney who's qualified in this area of litigation. There are a number of complexities associated with worksite accidents which is exactly why it’s critical to retain a top attorney in the field.

Construction Site Dump Truck Accidents

2008-09-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

Dump trucks pose additional dangers on a construction site.

If you are working on a construction site and operating a dump truck, it would behoove you to make sure that the area where you are dumping the contents of the truck is safe. If you pour out hundreds of pounds of sand, you certainly would not wish to pour it on top of someone. Now, some may scoff at this notion probably because they've seen mockups of this accident in old comedy shorts and films. In real life, however, this is far from a joke.

People can get seriously hurt when dump truck accidents go awry.

More than anything else a high level of awareness is critical when working on a construction site. While the sites are definitely closed off to outside traffic, there is much activity that goes on within the site. Because of all the activity some mistakes do happen. In most instances, these accidents are minor. However, there are those accidents which are severe.

Severe is defined as loss of life, limb, paralysis, or any other serious infliction of harm. This is why it's important to maintain a high level of safety regarding the operation of certain equipment. A dump truck would fall into this category of potentially dangerous equipment.

Whether you are operating a dump truck, managing the site where a dump truck is maneuvering, or are in the vicinity of a dump truck -- maintain awareness of your surroundings.

The dangers that can result from a mishap can be severe. Also, there is a number of liability issues associated with being hurt on a job site when a construction site accident occurs. Dump trucks are hardly toys and the operation of these vehicles must be maintained with extreme caution. To do otherwise would be risky to say the least.

Worst of all, these risks could greatly injure a fellow human being. So, why not be as cautious as possible?

Construction Accident Law - Workers Compensation

2008-09-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

Construction Accident Law - For The Workers’ Safety

Each and every facet of the construction accident law has been established to protect the workers’ safety and to prevent construction accidents.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the main organization that is responsible for setting safety regulations and standards for construction sites.

Workers’ Compensation Act
There is another aspectg to construction accident law that one should be aware of; each state has a Workers’ Compensation Act. According to this law, the injured workers would receive a percentage of their weekly salary so that they can pay for their medical expenses. However, under this Act, the employee cannot sue the employer for further damages.

Problem arises when a worker is seriously injured or when there is a third party who is responsible for the accident. When a victim of construction accident consults a construction accident lawyer, the lawyer would inquire about the accident. This is done to figure out who is at fault. Is it the employer or some third party? It might even be the case that the third party is not liable for workers’ safety. But if the third party knew about some dangerous condition on the construction site and failed to give proper warning, or failed to correct the conditon, he could be held liable for the accident.

The fact is that construction sites are dangerous places and that is why we have so many safety rules and regulations. Each and every construction accident law has been established with the aim of preventing and minimizing construction accidents. But still, accidents do happen. And that is why we have laws that help get the injured worker compensation that will cover his income loss, medical bills, loss of future earnings and disability.

Crane Safety 101 - Inspect, Inspect, Inspect

2008-09-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

This past year there have been too many crane accidents, too many deaths caused by crane accidents, and billions of dollars in damages from crane accidents.

Here are some crane safety tips that should be heeded by construction companies and safety engineers.

Regularly inspect cranes daily or at the beginning of each shift. Don't cut corners.

Have a qualified inspector inspect the crane.

Cranes should be in safe working condition.

Observe maintainance guidelines and fix problems as they arise. Don't cut corners.

Know the limitations of cranes.

Adequately train operators.

Crane Collapse: What Were They Thinking?

2008-08-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

You have to wonder what the project manager was thinking by trying to lower a large industrial white pump pipe weighing more than a Lear Jet through the roof of a building.

The crane apparently extended too far, the boom bent, and the 9-ton pump came crashing down.

A 56-year-old city worker got pinned between the roof and the boom, breaking both his legs. The pipe fell on another worker but did not kill him.

The crane industry has had a rotten year after too many high-profile collapses. Two deadly ones have happened in New York and one in Miami. The most recent crane collapse happened at the new Cowboys Stadium injurying two construction workers.

The crane industry remains unregulated. Contractors police themselves.

It's amazing more people weren't injured and that nobody died.

Construction Accident: Helmet Pierced by Flying Metal

2008-08-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

A construction worker on the 10th floor of a high rise was critically injured when a piece of metal fell from the 36th floor and pierced his helmet and head.

The piece of metal was stuck in his head.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and then transported to a Tampa hospital.

An investigation is being conducted by OSHA.

Fatal Crane Accident on Freighter

2008-08-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A 58 year old man was crushed by a crane aboard a freighter docked in Canada.

The freighter was ready to sail with its cargo loaded. One of the cranes was being stowed for voyage and the man was in the wrong place and got crushed.

Because of the offshore jurisdiction, it's unclear what organization will lead the investigation. Meanwhile, the ship and the rest of its crew have left port. The body of the worker is being held at a nearby hospital for an autopsy.

A coroner's report is expected.

Construction Accident Settlements - Making A Strong Case For The Victims

2008-08-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

For the victims of construction accidents, construction accident settlements need to be handled by experienced construction accident lawyers.

Why Cannot The Employer Always Be Held Liable?
Construction accidents settlements are usually won against third party defendant. This is because the employer cannot always be held liable for construction accidents. According to Workers’ Compensation Act, workers injured on the job would receive benefits like weekly payments, which would be based on a percentage of their salary. Moreover, they will also be paid for their disability and medical expenses incurred due to the treatment of injuries sustained during the construction accident.

Thus, in a construction accident, a construction accident lawyer will first check and determine whether the employer could be held responsible or not. For example, if there are OSHA violations, such as faulty safety gear, then it could be posslible for the employer to be held responsible for construction accidents that happened due to this negligence.

If the employer cannot be held responsible, then the construction accident lawyer would do determine whether any third parties wo could be held responsible for the accident. Contractors and subcontractors are often the ones who are responsible for the proper enforcement of safety rules and overall supervision of the construction sites. Moreover, they are not covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act. Therefore, if they are found negligent, they could be held liable.

Construction accident settlements are often handled by construction accident lawyers who have experience in this field. They would know how to determine who is to be held responsible.

Construction Accidents - Construction Sites - Construction Company

2008-08-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Construction Accidents - Get Your Rightful Compensation

Victims of construction accidents can turn to construction accident lawyers for gaining the best possible compensation.

Even though there are safety rules and regulations for construction sites, thousands of construction accidents happen each year. A construction accident could happen due to negligence on part of the employer or it could be caused by faulty equipment, or by the negligence of a 3rd party. Maybe the construction company provided poor quality safety gear due to which the accident occurred. Or maybe a third party such as the subcontractor was responsible because he/she failed to implement the safety regulations properly.

Reasons
Very often construction accidents happen due to faulty machinery and equipment. Workers handling the faulty equipment are often injured. Another casue of a construction accident could be the workers coming in contact with hazardous materials such as asbestos or chemicals. Electrocution is another way workers could be injured on construction sites.

A construction accident could also be the result of negligence on part of the employee himself.

The fact is that construction sites are quite dangerous place of work. That is why there are stringent safety rules and regulation to help protect the workers and the passersby. But still most of the construction accidents are blamed on negligence, unsafe equipments, and hazardous working conditions. Construction accident lawyers are the people who specialize in getting construction accident victims their compensation.

To get the compensation that you deserve, the construction accident lawyer needs to first figure out who was responsible for the accident. Once that has been determined, your lawyer can determine which rules and regulations were violated. It is possible that the responsible party violated some rule or was just simply negligent. Whatever the case maybe, a construction accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for injuries and income loss.

Crane Accidents Spurn Tougher Regulations

2008-08-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Following some major construction accidents in Maryland, the state of Md. could adopt tough regulations for training and certification geared to crane operators, riggers, and signal people.

Nationally, other accidents involving cranes this year have resulted in the deaths of multiple workers in New York and Miami.

Cranes must also be inspected daily when used and undergo a more rigorous annual inspection. A proposed change would require a master rigger to be on site and conduct daily safety briefings whenever cranes are set up or dismantled. Testing crane employees for alcohol and other drugs within 24 hours of serious accidents would also be required.

Maryland hopes to adopt these new rules within a few months.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Crane Accident

2008-08-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

The family of a 33 year old iron worker who died in a crane accident is filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Counsel for the victim's family was given access to where the crane accident occurred. The wrongful death victim's lawyers were able to view the accident scene, photograph it, inspect the equipment involved. Work has temporarily stopped for the investigation at the crane accident scene.

The victim was in the the basket of an aerial lift when the crane's boom collapsed onto the basket.

Construction Accident Reports - Construction Accident - Construction Site

2008-07-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

Construction Accident Reports - A Brief Insight

Construction accident reports state that any accident taking place on the building site would be deemed as a construction accident. A construction accident could involve a worker(s) working on the site, a worker(s) not working on the site or a bystander(s).

According to construction accident reports, a construction accident would include any accident that took place on a building site. Victims of construction accidents may include construction workers, other vendors on the construction site, sub-contractors and/or bystanders. On a construction site, a construction worker or a bystander could be injured due to a fall, by being struck by equipment, due to electrocution, or by being caught in equipment.

Construction Accidents
Construction accident reports often reveal that when a bystander is injured on building site, the contractor could be held liable under for the personal injury. On the other hand, if a construction worker is injured on a construction site, workers compensation laws would apply. In the event that a construction accident leads to injury or death of a construction worker who was not an employee of the negligent party, the victim can still file a suit under the general personal injury laws.

According to common law and OSHA standards, the contractor in charge of the building site can be responsible for any construction accident that occurs on his/her site. Victims of construction accidents often file construction accident suits to recover their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. For filing a construction accident suit, one should hire a lawyer who specializes in construction accident lawsuits.

There are many laws and regulations that ensure the safety of the workers and bystanders. But still thousands of people are either killed or injured in construction accidents every year.

Construction Site Accident: Teen Buried under Hot Asphalt

2008-07-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

In what has to be a freak construction site accident, a 15 year old Canadian teenager was buried alive under a load of hot asphalt.

The young man was part of a paving crew. He was helping to unload the truck when the hot asphalt came crashing down on him. Early reports think a faulty truck latch was the culprit.

The paving company's owner was a friend of the family and the teen was a hard worker who liked to make extra money as a summer worker.

In Manitoba, children under the age of 16 need a permit to be hired and aren't allowed to work construction jobs. The government's Safety and Health division is investigating the fatal workplace death .

Crane Accident Kills Four

2008-07-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Four men die when a 400 foot crane fell at a Houston oil refinery. Additional workers were injured and some are still hospitalized with non life threatening injuries.

The crane fell around 1:30 p.m. Men started screaming and yelling "run" and workers did, many just missing be crushed but injured because of falling debris. The four men were contract workers which means at this time it is unknown whether or not their familes receive benefits.

The crane was leased from Deep South Crane Co. The crane was one of the tallest in the world.

Deep South Crane released this statement: "The Deep South Crane and Rigging Company experienced a tragic industrial accident yesterday in Houston, TX, that resulted in the death of ..."

The fatal accident will be investigated. An injured employee said he felt the company practiced safety procedures.

There have been so many crane accidents nationwide as well as too many construction accidents nationwide and in Pennsylvania. If a loved one has died or been seriously injured in a crane accident or a construction accident, please contact the Anapol Schwartz personal injury and wrongful death law firm so we can help you determine what your legal options are.

Second Fatal Construction Accident in 3 Weeks

2008-07-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

A yet to be identified construction worker fell 40 feet at a warehouse that was being constructed. He was wearing safety gear and was moving sheet metal on the roof when he fell and died.

This was the second fatal construction accident in Maryland within a few short weeks.

Three weeks ago another man who wasn't wearing safety gear fell from scaffolding at a nearby warehouse and died.

Maryland OSHA is investigating both construction accident deaths.

Breakneck Construction Pace Costing Lives in Las Vegas

2008-07-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

Part 1 of a compelling series on construction safety and workplace deaths along the Las Vegas Strip reveals how the breakneck building pace is costing workers’ their lives needlessly:

Harold “Rusty” Billingsley’s hard hat and work boots are reminders of the job that led to the ironworker’s death Oct. 5 while working on CityCenter.

The luxurious casino Cesar Pelli designed for CityCenter is morphing day by day into the soaring blend of curves and glass the architect envisioned. But on Oct. 5, it was still an unrecognizable shell of steel columns and shiny corrugated metal.

About 20 cranes would have been in the sky that day, the ground a maze of trucks and equipment and thousands of tradesmen stacked above one another inside building frames where work went on around the clock.

They were busy building a casino and six adjacent high-rise structures, the most expensive private commercial development in U.S. history.

It was here that Harold Billingsley found himself 59 feet above the ground floor, walking in his brown ironworking boots on uneven temporary decking. He was heading to pick up extra bolts for his crew, his family believes. He stumbled.

Ordinarily, he would simply have fallen onto the decking. But at this exact moment in that exact spot, the decking contained a 3-by-11-foot hole that state investigators later said should not have existed.

Ironworkers wear safety harnesses for times like this. An attached cable is supposed to stop a plunge. Billingsley’s was not attached.

Safety regulations called for a temporary floor or netting no more than two stories down, a last chance to break his fall. None existed.

The man friends called “Rusty” for his fiery red hair fell to his death.

His was the fourth construction fatality at CityCenter, adding to what had already become a disturbing trend up and down the Strip. In the shadows of the cranes, steel and concrete upon which Las Vegas has pinned its addiction to growth, a body count has emerged. Nine construction workers have died in eight accidents since the end of 2006 at the towers that are redefining the Las Vegas skyline — Trump, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau and Palazzo. That’s as many deaths in 16 months as were reported during the entire 1990s building boom on the Strip. This time, the list of fatalities includes a safety engineer whose job was to find and correct safety
problems on the work site.

State investigators have looked into Billingsley’s death and others at Las Vegas construction sites. OSHA has determined that sloppiness and failure to adhere to standard – and often quite simple – safety procedures contributed to the deaths and other worker injuries.

Investigators for the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration found troubling patterns of safety violations: failure to ensure that workers are properly trained, allowing workers to use faulty equipment and leaving workers exposed to falls by not covering over or guarding gaping holes or not placing temporary planks or netting below.

Those are surprising mistakes for large, experienced construction companies, say experts eager to determine the reasons.

The federal OSHA office in San Francisco is considering an investigation as part of its
oversight of Nevada OSHA, and the District Council of Ironworkers for the Nevada
region is working with unions and contractors to review safety issues.

I urge you to read the well-written and well-researched article by the Las Vegas Sun. Other articles in the series are also available at the newspaper’s Web site.

Construction Accidents - Types Of Construction Accidents - Construction Sites

2008-07-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

The types of construction accidents that take place all over the world are too many to list. However, on a positive note it should be understood that any construction site could be made a zero accident zone by strict compliance to safety laws.

Construction Accidents And Their Prevention
Prevention of construction accidents has assumed great significance with the increase in the number of mega projects developing all over the world. Higher capacity plants are being erected. This has resulted in larger and taller equipments. Construction of these equipments is risky although modern methods are also being developed that incorporate many safety gadgets.

Here is a table displaying a few examples of the types of construction accidents in industry.
Construction Activity Type of Accident Handling cranes Snapping of ropes, Electric shocks due to crane booms accidentally touching electric wiresWelding and gas cutting operations Fire and electric shocksErecting equipment, columns and structures Slippage and fallsCivil construction Slippage and falls Installing electrical and instrumentation work Fire and electric shocks
Prevention Of Construction Accidents

Here are a few examples as to why construction accidents.• Negligence by the workers in adopting safety procedures like not wearing safety equipment.• Negligence by the construction supervisors who ask the workers to follow unsafe instructions• Using construction equipment that has poor maintenance or is inadequate for the job.• Working under inadequate illumination.

The Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA), an agency of the United States Department of Labor has laid down construction standards, and agency policy for compliance of the standards. Adherence to these and other applicable standards can go a long way in improving safety at construction sites and significantly reduce construction.

Gambling with Construction Workers’ Lives in Las Vegas

2008-07-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

Bloggers at the Pump Handle offer commentary on Las Vegas newspaper series about the shocking number of workplace accidents that occur on construction sites along the city’s famous Strip. Tourists visit Las Vegas for the gambling and the glitz and glamour, and in recent years, many of the city’s older casinos have been demolished to make way for newer, bigger, glitzier models. And in a city that literally never sleeps, the pressure is on to get these buildings constructed quickly so that the casinos can reopen and start raking in the money.

Some workers are paying for this “need for speed” with their lives:

The breakneck pace of high-rise construction on Las Vegas’ famed Strip comes at a terrible price: Since the end of 2006, nine construction workers have died in workplace accidents. In a special two-part series, the Las Vegas Sun’s Alexandra Berzon explores why these deaths are happening and what the state OSHA’s response has been.

Berzon’s first article, “Pace is the new peril,” begins with the story of 46-year-old Harold Billingsley, who worked on the CityCenter development, a casino and six adjacent high-rises that together amount to the most expensive private commercial development in this country’s history.

When companies aren’t living up to that responsibility, it’s OSHA’s job to make them. In “OSHA goes easy,” though, Berzon explains that the Nevada OSHA’s performance is leaving worker safety advocates and family members of workers killed on the job feeling upset.

Nevada OSHA conducted a month-long investigation after Billingsley’s death, and wrote in their report, “With reasonable diligence the hazard could have been detected and prevented.” The agency issues three citations with fines totaling $13,500. Then Billingsley’s employer, SME Steel Contractors, met privately in an informal conference with the agency, and OSHA withdrew the citations. And this wasn’t an isolated incident:

This story isn’t confined to Nevada, of course. But perhaps the tragedy of so many construction workers dying in one city over such a short period of time will serve as a wake-up call to officials.

The blogger notes that sadly many of these accidents – and deaths – could have been prevented with the use of a safety net “something that should have been in place every two floors, but wasn’t. Most of us tend not to notice safety nets until we need them. OSHA’s job is to make sure the safety nets are there, so that we can all feel protected when we go to work. These missing nets are a sign that workplace safety protections aren’t strong enough.”

Crane Safety Database to be Implemented

2008-07-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

Since March there have been two deadly crane accidents in New York City.

Instead of pointing fingers many of the city's construction contractors, trades, and realtors are coming together to form a new self regulatory group called NYC Construction Industry Safety Council.

One of their first tasks is to prepare a new series of crane safety regulations that focus on crane mainenance and repair safety records including a database for contractors to consult before renting crane equipment.

The goal is to have up to the minute crane whereabouts.

This is the first time that all these different construction groups are willing to get together and share construction safety information in order to develop best practices in the construction industry.

Construction Accidents - Claim In Construction Accidents - Accidents Attorney

2008-06-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

Construction accidents have made this career a “high-risk occupation” today. However, by being attentive to certain facts and procedures, construction workers can minimize the hazards involved in this profession.

Construction Accidents – What Do The Workers Need To Know About It?
Lack of awareness about construction accidentsis one of the primary reasons for the occurrence of such accidents and also for the inadequate relief provided to victims after the accident. Needless to say, construction workers are exposed to a lot more risks, regarding personal safety, as compared to any other occupation. However, these risks can be minimized with proper knowledge about the requisite safety standards and with sufficient training in using dangerous equipment.

The Most Common Construction Accidents
Construction sites generally witness the following kinds of accidents –
• Accidents during welding or scaffolding
• Falls from roofs, ladders, flooring holes/pits or deep excavations
• Accidents with power tools and compressed gases
• Electric shocks, fires or explosions
• Accidents related to lifting equipment – forklift trucks, cranes etc.
• Failure of safety harnesses
• Accidents due to faulty equipment or material

Things-To-Do For Such Accident-Victims
While it is easy for a third person to get a claim in construction accidents, the prevailing laws make it very difficult for the workers to claim compensation, if they become victims of such accidents.

These are the things that the workers need to do, to build a strong case in their favor.
• Make a journal about the various details related to the accident – location, weather conditions, equipments and materials being used at the time, people around at the time, malfunction of equipment (if any), and any other pertinent details.
• Find a personal-injury and accidents attorney as soon as possible.

Construction accidents involve a lot of complications and various parties can be held liable for them. As such, finding an experienced lawyer immediately is extremely important.

3 Construction Workers Die as Masonary Wall Crashes

2008-06-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Three construction workers died at a construction site last week when a masonary wall that they were working on crashed down around them. Two other construction workers were injured and are in stable condition. All were Latino construction workers.

Indiana state officials are investigating trying to determine what was the cause of one of the worst construction accidents on record.

Was the collapse due to the extremely high winds and severe thunderstorms? That is to be determined. As the storm rolled in, a foreman told them to brace up. The construction workers had no time to leave the scene. State building codes require that fresh masonry have some kind of bracing.

The masonary company has an extensive list of violations dating back a dozen years, too many are serious violations and repeat safety violations. The violations resulted in thousands of dollars in penalties.

Have you or a loved one suffered a serious injury or has a loved one died from a construction accident? Someone is at fault. Find out if you are eligible for a construction accident settlement and how the Pennsylvania law firm Anapol Schwartz can help support you in this time of need.

4 Construction Workers Die in Construction Accident

2008-06-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Two constructions in two different states die in construction accidents.

Disney Resort
A 52-year-old construction worker who was injured in a construction accident earlier this month died a few weeks later. The construction worker was working on a high lift vehicle and got pinned against something at the construction site.

He was working at Disney's All Star Resort in Orlando. The construction worker suffered chest, head, and neck injuries.

OSHA and the county sheriff's office are investigating.

Business Park
Three construction workers were killed when a concrete wall collapsed on them at a construction site. The construction workers were building a concrete block and mortar wall inside a prefabricated structure when the wall collapsed.

Two other construction workers were injured in the accident earlier in the afternoon.

The construction accident occurred in a business park in a southern Indianapolis suburb, where workers were building a freight terminal for Dayton Freight Lines.

Indiana OSHA is investigating the accident.

Construction Workers Strike, Unsafe Conditions

2008-06-23T23:07:00.000-07:00

Thousands of construction workers left their jobs because of unsafe working conditions following the dealth of two men.

The strike was not organized by the unions but rather by the workers independently who say too many workers and getting injuried and being killed, the latest who fell 26 storeys from a high rise because the scaffolding collapsed.

Safety standards diminished since workplace safety protections were removed by the legislation. Workers are angry the safety regulations have not been reinstated. Local construction sites are a time bomb for construction accidents.

Equipment has not been properly maintained, is old, and out of date, or parts that need replacing have not been replaced. Some employers get complacent about keeping up workplace equipment maintenance.

Concern about scaffolding safety has been recently addressed by the construction unions.

Although this construction workers strike happened in Brisbane, Australia, it could bloody likely happen anywhere.

Injured Worker Has The Right To Compensation

2008-06-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Construction accident claims are filed in a court of law or in the Workers Compensation system. It is filed on behalf of the injured workers from a construction accident with the aim of getting compensation for the damages sustained due to the accident.

Many of the claims filed by injured construction workers involve exposure to harmful conditions and materials. Excessive noise, extreme cold conditions, and heat stress can often lead to serious construction accidents. If construction workers are exposed to harmful chemicals like lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide, solvents, and other harmful chemicals, this can lead to serious injuries. Construction accident claims need to be filed as soon as possible. Victims of construction accidents need to consult their lawyers quickly so that they can get the compensation that they need.

Construction Accident: One Lives, One Dies

2008-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Construction Accident: One Lives

Fort Lauderdale—A construction worker was rescued today (June 16, 2008) when a piece of metal snapped away and hit him on the chest.

He was working on the 4th floor of a residential building under construction. It took about a half hour to lift the construction worker to safety using a basket and pulley system rigged to a fire truck. The worker was conscious throughout the ordeal but had some blood loss. An ambulance sped him away to the hospital. The cause of this construction accident is unknown at this time.

Construction Accident: One Dies

West Virginia--A former high school athlete died on June 13, 2008 when he was electrocuted in a construction accident. The 30-year-old man was working on a cooler at a vacant grocery store in Morgantown, when the accident occurred.

The grocery was vacant for a long time and Lone Pine Construction Co. where the man worked was one of the companies working on part of the reconstruction.

The victim suffered an electrical shock; he had only been employed by the company for less than two weeks. The victim was a star football player and wrestler and active in rodeo. He was also a football and wrestling coach and recently became a father.

The community mourns his death.

The construction accident is being investigated by federal OSHA as well as the Morgantown Police Dept.

Construction Accidents - Labor Law Claims - Accident Attorney

2008-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Construction accidents, generally considered as “part of the job”, or “occupational hazards”, are on the rise. Hence, it becomes essential for construction workers to know their rights regarding this matter.

Construction Accidents - Exceptions To The Labor Law Claims

The recent growth in development work has led to an alarming rise in the construction accidents as well. According to “The Daily News”, the recent 12% hike in high-rise construction work has triggered a massive 84% increase in construction site accidents, leading to property damage, personal injuries, and even loss of life of both the construction workers, as well as other people!

While a third person, sustaining any property or personal damages in construction accidents, can easily make claims against the same, the Worker’s Compensation Insurance makes it extremely difficult for the laborers to claim any damages, because under this law, they cannot sue their own employer for any injuries sustained by them due to such an accident. Moreover, most labor law claims are defended by using the "sole proximate cause" or the "recalcitrant worker" clause of the act.

If investigations prove that the construction accidents happened only because the workers set up the equipment incorrectly, then the entire responsibility for the accidents lies on the workers, and they are not entitled to any claims for personal injuries, under "sole proximate cause". "Recalcitrant worker" clause is used as defense when it is found that the workers, or claimants, used the equipment incorrectly or ignored the safety instructions.

These two points are most frequently raised in defense by insurance companies in cases of construction accidents. And at times, even honest workers fall victims to decisions based on these two clauses due to lack of timely legal advice! It is essential to consult a personal-injury or accident attorney as soon as possible, if you know that you have done your work honestly and sincerely.

Remembering the Victims of Workplace Accidents

2008-06-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

When it comes to workplace safety, statistics tell only one side of the story.

As we’re written here before, the AFL-CIO has released a report about the dangers facing Latino workers, who are more likely to be injured or killed on the job than any other ethnic or racial group.

Stastistis can be compelling, but it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers and forget that there are really people who are involved in these cases. Real people are seriously hurt or killed at work every day.

They are people like this man:

Last year a laundry worker for the Cintas Corp. in Oklahoma named Eleazar Torres-Gomez was killed after he freed a jammed-up wad of wet blue jeans on a conveyor belt and fell into the industrial dryer with the clothes.

San Jose resident Maria Espinoza, who also works for Cintas, the nation's largest uniform supplier, testified at a congressional hearing last week about the case and met the family of the dead man there.

"I felt so sad because his death could have been avoided," said Espinoza, who has been injured on the job herself and is trying to organize her co-workers into a union in hopes of improving workplace safety. "There should have been better protection and better training."

Construction Accident Victims - Construction Site - Construction Accident Attorneys

2008-06-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Construction accident victims can turn to construction accident attorneys to figure out who the liable party is. Even with all the stringent rules and regulations in place, construction accidents are quite frequent.

Construction Accident Attorneys - Fighting For Your Rights And Safety
If you have been injured on a construction site and you are not sure about whether you should file a claim or not, the best idea would be to consult a construction accident attorneys. You can also get free consultation for your case.

Accident Prone
The fact is that construction sites are one of the most dangerous working sites. Thousands of construction accidents take place every year, even though there are safety rules and regulations that aim at reducing the number of construction accidents. These accidents could occur due to any given number of reasons: falling from scaffolds and other elevations, being hit by moving machinery or equipment, electrocution, exposure to asbestos and other hazardous chemicals, or by handling defective machinery.

Who Can Help
Construction accident attorneys help construction accident victims by first finding who the liable party is. Often a worker is injured but is barred from suing his employer due to workers compensation laws. In many construction accident cases, it is not always clear who is at fault. Based on the advice of your attorney, you could decide whether to pursue a case against a third party or whether you will only be entitled to worker’s compensation.

construction accident are often very serious. It could mean loss of work for a long time or even forever. Construction accidents do not just mean loss of income; they also have a negative impact on your quality of life. Construction accident attorneys help victims of construction accidents in getting compensation for medical bills, income loss, future loss of income, emotional distress etc. An experienced construction accident attorney can effectively take on the attorneys hired by the construction companies.

In less than 2 ½ months, another crane has collapsed killing construction workers in New York City

2008-06-02T05:32:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - A construction crane collapsed Friday on New York's Upper East Side, smashing into a 23-story apartment building as it fell to the ground, killing two construction workers and seriously injuring another.

It was the second deadly crane accident in 2 1/2 months and the latest of several construction mishaps in the city, which recently shook up its Building Department and beefed up inspections.

"What has happened is unacceptable and intolerable. Having said that, we do not know at the moment what happened or why," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference, adding that it appears the builders followed regulations.

City building department records show that inspectors stopped crane work twice last month, once because they said a crane lacked the proper permit and was being operated in an unsafe manner.

The mayor said the top part of the crane snapped off and fell against the building on the southwest corner of 91st Street and First Avenue about 8 a.m. Witnesses described a loud boom, then a cloud of smoke and debris.

"The sound was like a thunder clap. Then, an earthquake," said Peter Barba, who lives on the seventh floor of the damaged building across the street from where workers were erecting a luxury apartment tower.

Video from the scene showed the upper-floor balconies of the apartment building were severely damaged and a hole extended several stories down the side of the building. The mayor said seven buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

One body was brought out of the rubble, placed on a gurney and covered in a white sheet. A construction worker knelt over the stretcher, gently stroking the sheet.

Killed were crane operator Donald Leo, 30, who was in the cab when it broke away from the spindly machine and plummeted to the ground, and Ramadan Kurtas, 27, pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, officials said.

A third construction worker was seriously injured, and one pedestrian was treated for minor injuries.

Construction foreman Scott Bair said one of the workers on his 40-man crew, Simeon Alexis, was taken to the hospital with his "chest slashed open."
"Everyone was shook up and crying. These are some hardened men, but they were crying," he said.

Chaos enveloped the largely residential neighborhood of town houses and apartment high-rises as dozens of emergency vehicles raced to the scene during the morning rush hour.

Robert Lopez, manager of a Duane Reade pharmacy on the ground floor of the building that was hit, said he was 10 feet from the window when he heard "a big boom."

"Everybody was yelling and running and calling 911," he said. When he looked out again, he saw part of the crane had landed just feet from the window where he had been standing.

The general contractor on the project, Leon D. DeMatteis Construction Corp. of Elmont, posted a statement on its Web site Friday: "First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by this terrible tragedy. We are currently in the process of gathering all the facts surrounding this unfortunate accident and will provide more details as they become available."

Sorbara Construction, a subcontractor, was in charge of operating the crane. A woman who answered the telephone at Sorbara on Friday said no one was available to comment.
The neighborhood, not far from the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, has undergone a construction boom in recent years, with high-rises swiftly replacing older, low-rise brownstones.

Full of bars and casual restaurants, the neighborhood is populated with a mix of retirees, students and young professionals. Until recently, it had been considered one of Manhattan's more affordable neighborhoods.

Cranes at the site had generated several complaints in the neighborhood, including reports that safety barriers were breached and heavy loads passed over the heads of pedestrians, according to city building department records.

Inspectors found that most of the concerns were unwarranted, but they did temporarily order one crane at the site to stop all work on April 23 for not having the proper permit and for operating the crane in an unsafe matter.

Building Department records also said officials halted work after a crane on the site failed a "load test" on April 22. The crane passed a second test, however, the next day, and no violation was issued.

In a March 15 accident about 2 miles to the south, contractors building a 46-story condominium near the United Nations were trying to lengthen a crane when a steel support broke, killing seven people. A four-story town house was demolished and several other buildings were damaged.

A buildings inspector had found the crane to be safe a day before the collapse; another inspector resigned after his arrest on charges of lying earlier about inspecting the same crane.

In April, the city's buildings commissioner resigned, under fire over a rising number of deadly construction accidents that have left more than 26 construction workers dead in the past year.

Since then, the city has added extra inspections at building sites and required that its staff be on hand whenever the towering cranes were raised higher, a process known as a jump. Those procedures are still being revised.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_on_re_us/crane_collapse

Construction Accidents – Work Related Accidents - Workplace Safety Rules

2008-05-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Construction accidents are becoming a major threat to personal safety, across the entire nation. A House of Representatives committee plans to review the federal OSHA standards for ensuring workforce protection.

Alarming Growth In Construction Accidents - OSHA Standards Reviewed

Construction accidents, routinely considered as unavoidable “occupational hazards”, can be prevented with proper compliance to the OSHA standards and adequate safety training. These work-related accidents can often take a very serious form, leaving the workers incapacitated for life, or even dead at times!

High-Rise Boom Leads To Rising Death-Toll At Construction Sites

The recent upsurge in construction accidents has forced the Government to review its safety standards for workers. According to the Department of Buildings, New York City has witnessed as many as 8 severe accidents in 2007, related to cranes alone! And in Las Vegas, there have been at least 10 casualties, due to mishaps at constructions sites, in the last 17 months! This has drawn the attention of both the House of Education, as well as the Labor Committee.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., said that what was happening in New York, and all the other cities across the nation, was that the exceeding haste to “meet construction deadlines” was “taking its toll” and workers were getting injured or killed just so that “some big buildings can get built quickly.” He said that a workforce protection committee will shortly review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and also ensure their implementation by employers, to minimize the occurrence of such construction accidents.

Senator Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., seconded Woolsey in the demand for tougher penalties for employers who violate workplace safety rules. Together, they have introduced legislations and raised criminal penalties, making it easier for workers to appeal to rulings. The bill doesn’t focus on prevention of construction accidents, but it can provide some relief to the victims of such accidents!

National Safety Month an opportunity to examine workplace safety

2008-05-20T08:18:00.001-07:00

June is National Safety Month, but workplace safety should be a 12-month priority for any employer.

The National Safety Council offers a wide variety of resources to help businesses of all sizes provide a safer workplace. For example, companies should ensure that several people on staff have CPR training. Equipping your office with defibrillators is another possible step.

For free information on how to make your workplace safer, go to the NSC's Web site.

Death at Pennsylvania Construction Site Accident

2008-04-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

An employee of Thackray Crane Rental Inc. was killed when an unsecured load of chiller coils on the back of a tractor-trailer truck crashed on to the roof of the cab of the truck he was driving.

The man was sitting in the cab when the roof caved in.

It appeared that the tie-down straps securing the load of coils had already been removed when the employee attempted to reposition the truck. The load shifted and a coil fell onto the truck crushing the passenger.

The general contractor, J.J. White Inc. of Philadelphia hired Thackray Crane Rental Inc. to handle the coils, which were part of an air-conditioning system. The employee was considered well respected by Thackray Crane Rental. The question is – was he well trained? And is there a training and/or safety manual for his job duties?

U.S. OSHA will be investigating the accident.

Taking Breaks Can Help Prevent Back Injuries

2008-04-25T06:16:00.001-07:00

If your job, like construction work, involves a lot of heavy lifting, you may need to take more frequent breaks than other workers, according to a study by Ohio State University.

And if you’re new on the job, you may need even more breaks. The study showed that injuries were more common among inexperienced workers and occurred more often near the end of a shift.

Researchers measured the amount of oxygen that was reaching the muscles in workers’ lower backs. Oxygen levels indicate how hard the muscles are working and whether they’re becoming fatigued. Muscle fatigue has been linked to back injury.

Construction accidents

2008-04-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Due to the nature of construction sites and construction work, it is all too common for accidents to occur. Just this week a construction worker fell to his death from an building under construction in New York when a safety strap system intended to secure him to the building failed.

Construction is a high hazard occupation with the third highest rate of death by injury following the mining and agriculture industries. The leading causes of death among construction workers are falls from heights, motor vehicle crashes, electrocution, machine accidents, and struck by falling objects.Industrial accidents often result in severe personal injury such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, quadriplegia, paraplegia, fractured necks, back, bones and sometimes death. Due to the severe nature of such injuries, industrial accidents are often the subject of personal injury, product liability and wrongful death lawsuits.

Workers compensation laws are often a surprisingly inadequate means of compensating a severely injured employee. It is important to determine if a third party (like subcontractors or equipment manufacturers) is responsible for contributing to the workers injury or wrongful death.

Injury is not just a part of the job. An experienced construction accident attorney will be able to help you navigate the legal system to ensure adequate justice and coverage for medical care.

OSHA Rules Designed to Protect Employees, Prevent Workplace Injuries

2008-04-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Savannah Morning News in Georgia poses an interesting question:

How much do we really know about OSHA, its rules and its protections?

The article that answers that question is a good primer on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and its role in preventing workplace injuries and ensuring worker safety.

For example, do you know what kind of penalties employers face for violating OSHA rules and regulations:

OSHA penalties range from nothing to $70,000, depending upon how likely the violation is to result in serious harm to employees. Other-than-serious violations often carry no penalties but may result in penalties of up to $7,000. Serious violations may have penalties up to $7,000. Repeat and willful violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. Penalties may be discounted if an employer has a small number of employees, has demonstrated good faith, or has few or no previous violations.

We all – employees and employers – could probably use a lesson on OSHA. So check out the newspaper’s informative article.

NYC Crane Inspector Fails to Do His Job; Gets Arrested

2008-04-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

A Building Department crane inspector was arrested and charged with lying about inspecting the crane accident that killed seven people, injured dozens and caused millions of dollars in property damage.

On March 3, a call was made to the Building Department about the instability of the crane. The claim inspector said he inspected the crane and falsified documents as to doing so. The Building Department commissioners don’t think the lack of crane inspection was the cause of the March 15 accident; that there were probably other factors; and the investigation continues.
The crane inspector was charged with two counts both felonies which could mean up to four years in prison.

The head of the Building Department ordered re-inspections of 100 percent of crane inspector’s inspections over the last six months. He requested the Department of Investigation to do a full audit of the crane inspector’s inspection reports. He requested the Department of Investigation to do a full audit of the entire cranes and derricks unit. He redistributed the code of conduct to our entire agency and launched a full operational review of the cranes and derricks unit and ordered that associated applications and paperwork be made available on the Web so that they are apparent to the public. He suspended the crane inspector until further notice.

See: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/city-inspector-is-charged-in-crane-case/?hp

Construction Safety Warning Aims to Prevent Building Collapse

2008-04-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

A construction accident in Canada has prompted the Workers’ Compensation Board in Prince Edward Island to issue a safety advisory to contractors. Theirs is good advice that could save construction workers everywhere from being injured on the job.

Construction workers should be careful not to overload trusses while building homes, the Board warned. Doing so could cause the trusses to collapse, leading to serious injury or death.

The warning was prompted by a house collapse that resulted after trusses were overloaded with sheets of particleboard.

George Stewart, of the occupational health and safety division of the Workers
Compensation Board, said it was remarkable that the two people hurt when the
trusses came down had only minor injuries.

"It becomes common practice at times for people to load the trusses and it's only a matter of time before someone will be seriously injured," said Stewart.

Workers’ Comp Costs Still Worry California Employers, But Not as Much

2008-04-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Small business owners are worried about the economy, workers’ compensation costs, taxes and other issues that are could their bottom line, according to a survey by Union Bank of California.

Interestingly, though, worry about rising workers’ compensation costs has declined. Just 33 percent of those surveyed cited it as a concern, compared with 43 percent a year ago. The reason may have something to do with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s workers’ compensation reforms, which haven’t been very friendly to injured workers.

“This annual survey is an excellent barometer of issues facing small business owners,” said Union Bank of California’s President and Chief Executive Officer Masa Tanaka. “While the group surveyed has become increasingly concerned about California’s economy, a majority still expects an increase in profits in 2008. That’s good news for California as a whole because small business is a powerful driver of the economy.”

For the full results of the survey, check out the press release from Union Bank.

Negligence and Construction Accidents

2008-04-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

It has been said accidents happen. But, there is a follow up question that can be asked of this statement and it is how did this accident happen? For example, if someone working on a construction site were to fall when a ladder's steps cracked one would wonder how such a ladder made it to the work site. If the answer is management opted not to replace an obviously faulty ladder then we realize how this accident happened: negligence! Obviously, with negligence there are issues of liability and anyone who suffers an accident from such negligence should seek just compensation for all the problems such an injury can yield.

Construction Accidents and Falls

2008-04-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Probably the most common construction related accidents are fall. Sadly, the main reason behind these falls is negligence and the negligence is often not the fault of the person who took the fall. Providing faulty ladders and unsafe working conditions is absolutely intolerable and any employee who creates such a work environment can and should be held liable. A suit against a construction company that is responsible for an accident or injury can provide not only the financial stability to handle all income related problems such an injury can bring, it can also provide a clear warning to all construction sites to run their sites in an above board manner.

Construction Accidents and the FMLA

2008-04-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

If you have suffered a construction accident it is not acceptable for an employer to pressure you to come back to work before you are completely healed. Also, the employer should not be able to fire an employee if the employee needs time off to recuperate. Keep in mind there are regulations under the Family and Medical League Act (FMLA) that provide certain protections to employees who are facing medical problems. If you feel that your rights under this law are being violated then it may be best to discuss the matter with your attorney particularly if any adverse actions have been taken against you.

The Basics of Construction Accidents

2008-03-31T12:55:00.001-07:00

Construction accidents can be a serious matter. Whether one suffers a serious laceration or a dangerous fall while working negligence and unsafe working conditions may be at fault. Yes, there are unavoidable accidents that can occur and there is little that can be done to avoid such a situation. But, there are also a number of instances where construction accidents occur that could have been completely avoided had the "powers to be" took the proper steps to ensure their worker's safety. If there is someone is responsible for such an accident they will need to confronted and this is where a quality personal injury lawyer can prove truly helpful.

Miami Crane Accident Kills 2 People

2008-03-26T11:58:00.001-07:00

Two construction workers were killed in Miami when a 20 foot piece of construction crane dropped 30 floors at the site of a high rise luxury condominium on Biscayne Bay. Five other workers were injured, one is in critical condition.

Emergency workers found no evidence of trapped victims, but fire officials said rescue efforts were hampered because the crane section remained unstable.

One died in the house used by the contractors and the other died at a hospital.
The company, Bovis Lend Lease Holdings, Inc., is cooperating with OSHA investigators. OSHA issued 15 inspections nationwide against subcontractor Morrow Equipment

The state of Florida does not license or regulate tower cranes or crane operators, but bills moving through both houses of the Legislature would change that.In 2006, a fatal crane accident in Miami-Dade County prompted local officials to work with industry leaders on an ordinance that would beef up inspections and safety measures for lifting cranes. The law is to go into effect later this week.

see: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4521578

Crane Collapse: 7 Dead, 1 Missing and 24 Injured in Construction Accident

2008-03-18T02:50:00.001-07:00

What happened? The crane collapse accident happened as day workers on a high-rise condominium under construction added two or more 13-foot sections to increase the crane’s height, a process known as climbing the crane. When done, the crane’s tower had reached a height of more than 200 feet or about 20 stories which was topped by a cab and jib extending farther.

Then the workers started to brace the crane by positioning a steel collar around the outside of the crane’s tower at the building’s 18th floor. The collar weighed about 12,000 pounds and was made from two U-shaped pieces of steel joined together. The collar was to be secured to the tower and then tied by steel struts to the building.

As the work continued, the 12,000 pound collar was suspended high above the ground from metal hoists, known as chain blocks, connected to a higher section of the steel tower with slings made of thick nylon webbing.

As workers were maneuvering the 12,000 pound collar into place, the collar broke free and plummeted down the crane’s tower, like a ring around a steel tube sliding down. It slammed into another collar already in place at the ninth floor, shearing it from the struts that held it to the building and carrying it down to smash into yet another collar at the third floor.

Neither moored nor balanced, the structure teetered and fell, pulling the crane down onto the buildings to the south.

Officials are focusing part of their construction investigation on the way the 12,000 pound steel collar was being installed, including whether a series of hoists and nylon straps used to hold it temporarily in place were strong enough to sustain its weight.

Four construction workers, the crane operator and three riggers, who were helping to increase the height of the crane, were killed. Construction has been halted during the investigation which will look into human error, mechanical error, or whether the procedures are adequate or not.
Each time construction workers cleared a section of the rubble, rescue workers descended on a ladder and then crawled farther into the collapsed ruins, armed with listening devices to search for signs of life.

Seventeen buildings were evacuated, and most people were still not able to get inside. Most displaced people found lodging with relatives or made other arrangements.

The crane was owned by New York Crane & Equipment Corporation, but it had apparently been leased to one of the contractors involved in the project, an Elizabeth, N.J., subcontractor known as Joy Contractors Inc., identified as JCI in Building Department documents. The crane installation was designed and approved by an engineer based in West Babylon, N.Y.

The lead developer on the project was a retired firefighter with a law degree who branched out into real estate. He has done about two dozen projects since he opened his own development company in the mid-1980s, but the this building which is to rise to 43 stories, with 180 condominium apartments, was by far the largest. The biggest building he built before was a 14-story apartment building.

Do you need a construction accident law firm in New Jersey or Pennsylvania?

see: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/nyregion/17cnd-crane.html?em&ex=1205899200&en=36f5ba4f08078bc7&ei=5087%0A

Construction Accident: Crane Collapsed, At Least 4 People Dead, Many Injured

2008-03-17T04:52:00.000-07:00

“We’ve worried about that construction crane every day,” said a resident who lives in the building which the crane struck as it fell.

A crane towering over a high-rise construction site on Manhattan’s east side collapsed in a roar causing death and destruction across a city block as it came down on an apartment building, broke into sections, crushed a town house, and cut away a tenement facade.

At least four unionized construction workers were killed and more than a dozen others were in serious to critical condition. Damage is expected to run into the millions in what the authorities claim is one of the city’s worst construction accidents.

Many neighborhood residents said that for months they worried about the possibility of a collapse as the crane loomed higher each week. Floors were added with remarkable speed.
The cause of the construction accident is under investigation by city, state and federal agencies. A piece of steel fell and sheared off one of the girders holding the crane to the building. The collapse occurred as workers attempted to jack up the crane, raising its height to enable work to continue above the 19th floor of a planned 43-story building. Builders had city permission to raise the construction crane as the crane had just been inspected with no violations found.

The collapse crane at about 22 stories tall broke away from its anchors and toppled south with a roar fell across 51st Street and onto a 19-story apartment building, demolishing a penthouse, and shaking the building with the force of an earthquake.

The upper reaches of the crane including the cab and the extended swinging arm broke away from the boom, which was left leaning against the facade, and hurtled southward across the block toward 50th Street, tumbling in the air.

The crane’s blue steel cab made a direct hit on a four-story town house and a bar on the ground floor. The building, on the north side of 50th Street, was demolished.

In addition to the collapsed town house, the toppling crane jib sheared away the side of a six-story gray tenement building just to the west, exposing tiers of apartments.

Construction debris also damaged buildings on the south side of 50th Street, and bricks demolished parked cars. City and Consolidated Edison workers quickly moved in to cap the leaks and prevent explosions. A local civic group complained about the construction work citing debris in the street, a lack of a sidewalk bridge, and other faults. The New York City Department of Buildings had issued 14 violations against contractors doing work at the construction site, 10 of them against RCG. The citations were issued between Jan. 17, 2006, and Feb. 8, 2008. The violations included failure to safeguard the public and property and failure to provide roof protection on adjacent property.

See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/nyregion/16collapse.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Coming Soon!

2008-03-06T10:18:00.000-08:00