New York City construction workers involved in demolition and renovation are at risk of injury.
In October 2014, WABC-TV New York reported that two construction workers on Long Island were trapped in concrete and wire debris when the heavy ceiling of the unoccupied Nassau County Department of Social Services collapsed on them during remediation and renovation work. The 22- and 46-year-old workers had to be dug out of the asbestos-containing rubble before being decontaminated and brought to the hospital.
While their injuries were reportedly not serious, the collapse of a concrete ceiling can easily be a fatal event. Renovation and demolition are two inherently dangerous types of construction work and a construction worker in one of these specialties is at risk of injury and even death. For that reason, such work is heavily regulated for safety by state, local and federal authorities.
Renovation And Demolition Risks
Obviously, any time a building is disturbed in renovation or demolition, any number of dangerous conditions could arise, including:
- Loss of structural integrity
- Collapse of support beams, walls or ceilings
- Collapse of trenches, walls or stairs in basement work
- Floor cave-ins
- Severing of electrical wiring or gas lines
- Falling debris
- Release or presence of dust and contaminants
- And more
On these construction sites, workers may also face these particular risks:
- Falls from heights or through holes
- Tripping or slipping on debris
- Being hit or otherwise injured by heavy equipment like cranes, forklifts, trucks and power tools
- Heavy or awkward lifting
- Welding and jackhammer accidents
- Unsafe scaffolding or ladders
- Poor lighting
- And more
As these dangers reveal, demolition workers are at risk of broken bones, internal injuries, musculoskeletal injury, traumatic brain injury, limb amputation, paralysis, illness from exposure to contaminants, burns, electrocution, back injury, eye injury and more, including death.
Smart Legal Counsel Can Make All The Difference
New York workers need to understand that if they are injured in their jobs or become ill because of the nature of their work, they must take action right away so as not to miss any legal deadlines. Missing filing or notice deadlines could deprive them of their rights to certain claims, lawsuits and other legal remedies.
Quick consultation with an experienced New York construction accident attorney like one from the New York City law firm of Arye, Lustig & Sassower, P.C., will help prevent missed deadlines. A knowledgeable, skilled New York work injury lawyer can advise an injured construction worker about his or her legal options.
