New York Personal Injury News & NYC Legal Current Events

New York Construction Worker Deaths Fall 84 Percent, Injuries Rise

While the number of New York City construction accident deaths fell significantly in 2009 worker injuries in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx are up. Only three men died in construction accidents in 2009, compared with 19 worker deaths in 2008. Many believe there are concrete reasons for the two trends in NYC construction accidents.

First, many construction is down generally due to the recent economic recession. Since fewer construction workers are employed and fewer construction sites are active, fewer construction workers are getting killed while on the job.

Secondly, the two widely-reported crane accidents and injuries in 2008 drew attention to the construction industry in New York and to construction safety measures and regulations. Although seven people died in just one crane accident in 2008, the repercussions of this tragic construction accident have led to safer construction sites overall.

Despite the drop in NYC construction worker fatalities, injuries were up, from 178 to 246. This number is somewhat boggling considering the limited amount of construction work and the lower number of deaths. Some believe that the higher injury number is due to more construction companies and more workers reporting all types of injuries due to the heightened safety concerns of the last two years.

Two of the deaths were fall injuries in which workers were not wearing mandatory safety harnesses. Construction site falls continue to be one of the leading causes of injury and death in New York.

Read More About New York Construction Worker Deaths Fall 84 Percent, Injuries Rise...

back to top