Two Construction Workers Die In Manhattan Accident

New York City Safety Law Violations were Ignored

Roy Powell, 51, and Brett McEnroe, 49, were working on an elevator shaft when they fell more than 70 feet. The tragic news shocked colleagues and family members, as each worker had more than 30 years of experience.

Sadly, these fatalities could have easily been avoided, as police said the men were not wearing safety harnesses at the time of the accident. It is unclear why a support platform or safety netting was not installed at the jobsite, as these precautions prevent or lessen the injuries in falls from heights. It is apparent is that safety rules were blatantly disregarded at the construction site, a church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Jobsite Continually Violated NYC Laws

The fatal accident occurred at a midtown construction site that was being probed for failing to follow the City’s safety code, including the failure to install scaffolding and guardrails. The Environmental Control Board had also imposed 10 violations on the work site, including one for failing to secure scaffolding. The site was shut down immediately after the accident.

Routine safety precautions are often ignored at construction sites where architects and foremen encourage workers to meet deadlines and often provide financial incentives for achieving early completion. The results can be tragic, as evidenced by this recent work accident.

Construction Accident Fatalities Too Common

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 1,000 construction workers die every year on the job, and thousands more are injured. Often injuries occur when foremen fail to enforce safety guidelines or when the workplace itself is unsafe.

More than six million people are working in construction on any given day in the U.S. Given the potential hazards, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has developed universal standards, such as wearing protective headgear, using scaffolding and utilizing safety harnesses and nets as protection from falls.

It is advisable construction worker injured at a work site seek out an experienced attorney. A New York lawyer can advise injured workers or surviving families on potential workers’ compensation claims, and other possible legal remedies such as third-party lawsuits.