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 latest fatality in Manhattan. All work has stopped on a luxury condominium after one of the architects on the project was killed in a fall. The architect had disengaged the fastener on his harness while working near the ledge 47 stories above the ground.

The architect fell over a security barrier less than two feet high after tangling his foot and slipping. He was at the ledge to get measurements. An investigation is being conducted by the New York City Department of Buildings. The architect’s death was confirmed at the site.

Construction workers may encounter many potentially dangerous scenarios during their work day, including accidents with machinery or tools and falls from scaffolding or ladders. Workers who have incurred an injury or families who have lost a loved one to a construction-related accident may want to understand their legal options. An attorney can help shed light on their situations and give advice about what may be the best course of action to take. In some situations, attorneys may be able to demonstrate that improper safety precautions lay behind a worker’s injury.

Source: Epoch Times, “Architect falls to his death from Manhattan skyscraper,” Chika Dunu, Sept. 18, 2016