Each day, construction workers face a myriad of threats, from falling off of ladders and suffering an injury caused by machinery to electrocution and falling debris. In Manhattan, and throughout the entire state of New York, it is absolutely essential for employers as well as those who work in the construction industry to understand the importance of preventing construction accidents. Regrettably, some employers fail to ensure that job sites are safe, which is why workers should also keep a[...]

We are lucky to live in the greatest city in the world. However, it does have its negatives. Living in such a heavily populated area means our air is not always top quality. That problems gets even worse for far too many New Yorkers who work in certain jobs. A lot of people don't think twice about the health and safety of their lungs until they face a condition that impacts their lungs and thus, their ability to[...]

Accidents on construction sites may affect workers in different ways. Some New York workers may require time off of work to recover from their injuries; other construction accidents are fatal. According to the United States Department of Labor, 61 construction workers have died in construction-related accidents in New York since October 2015, and 961 have been killed while on the job nationally. The number of deaths from accidents on construction sites in 2016 continues to climb with the[...]

The New York City law firm of The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny has a successful and proud history of helping construction workers injured on the job. Often, these injured workers ask some very thoughtful questions about how to proceed with their case and what comes next after deciding to file suit. One of the most common questions comes when a worker is injured when the ladder or scaffold that they worked on falls or collapses. This[...]

Electrical incidents are among the top sources of hazard for workers on New York City construction sites. To help employers and construction workers understand and prevent disasters, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides information on how electricity affects the body and the injuries and fatalities that may occur as a result of an electrical accident. Skin is not a good conductor of electricity when it is dry, but salt, acid and other impurities increase its conductivity. Sweat[...]

Unfortunately, this summer in New York City might go down in history as the most catastrophic time ever for construction accidents. Earlier this month, a construction worker was killed and two other people were seriously injured when a wall that collapsed on them while they were working on a construction site in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. According to those who were there for the accident, a retaining wall at the construction site collapsed. This wall was supposed[...]

Federal law requires an employer in New York to provide every worker with an environment that is free of hazards. When it comes to powered industrial trucks, also known as forklifts, a major contributor to injuries and fatalities is the failure of companies to educate employees on all OSHA standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has very specific requirements to reduce or eliminate risk factors that are a part of operating this equipment. Forklift hazards vary depending[...]

The skeletal frames surrounding buildings as they grow in height are such a common site in New York City, most people may not give scaffolding a second glance. In fact, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, this framework is a part of the job for 65 percent of construction workers in the United States. OSHA has developed standards, but estimates that non-compliance is an ongoing issue that leads to about 60 deaths and 4,500 injuries[...]

According to Forbes' America's 10 Deadliest Jobs, construction workers fall at number 10 on the list. Seeing the number of construction accidents and deaths we have had this year in New York City, this is not all that surprising. The large and heavy pieces of equipment that are needed and utilized at construction sites make accidents so dangerous and severe. One in five worker deaths in 2014 were in construction, which accounted for 20.5% of worker fatalities in[...]