Fall down elevator shaft causes fatal construction injuries

The number of accidents that occur on building sites in New York City has been the subject of many discussions and calls for increased compliance with safety regulations and more employee training. Construction workers in New York have been dying at an unacceptable rate. In one recent incident, a 22-year-old work suffered fatal construction injuries.

Reportedly, emergency workers of the fire department received a call about an on-the-job accident at the 52-story Manhattan condominium construction site on Fifth Avenue. They say the call came in shortly after 9:30 a.m. on a recent Friday. Upon arrival, they found that a worker had fallen down the elevator shaft of the unfinished building.

The victim was rushed to a hospital, but the severity of his injuries caused his death, which was pronounced at the hospital. There is no information available about the circumstances that led to the fall. Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the New York City Department of Buildings will likely launch their respective investigations into this accident to determine the cause and examine on-site safety procedures.

The surviving family of the young worker who suffered fatal construction injuries will be entitled to seek relief from the unanticipated financial burden with which they likely have to cope. With the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, they can file survivors’ benefits claims. The New York insurance program typically provides coverage of end-of-life costs along with a portion of lost income for covered dependents to help with day-to-day expenses in the aftermath of the tragic loss of their loved one.

Source: NBC New York, “22-Year-Old Worker Dies After Falling Down Elevator Shaft at Manhattan Condo Project“, Aug. 18, 2017

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