What Are the Most Common Causes of Death on NYC Construction Sites?
Fatal Findings: The Deadly Dangers on Construction Sites in New York City
The construction industry in New York City and across the country remains one of the most dangerous jobs. Each year thousands of people are injured or killed at construction sites, including dozens in NYC alone. Increased awareness and adherence to safety regulations could prevent many of these unnecessary deaths and injuries.
At the Law Office of Asaro & Associates, we represent individuals who have been hurt or killed in construction accidents throughout New York City. Our experienced legal team has obtained millions in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
If you have been injured at a NYC construction site, contact our office at (718) 650-2135 for a free consultation.
Construction and Dangerous Job Sites
According to an annual report on construction fatalities by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers across the country. It is even more deadly for New York City workers. Research shows that construction worker fatalities account for 30% of all worker fatalities in NYC.
Construction site accident statistics:
- Falls are the top cause of construction fatalities in the city;
- Non-union job sites continue to be the most dangerous, accounting for 83% of worker fatalities in NYC;
- Construction workers between the ages of 55-64 have an increased risk of dying; and
- 20 construction workers died in NYC in 2017, rising to 22 in 2018.
Falls continue to be the number one cause of construction fatalities in the city. Over the past decade across the state, 48% of construction fatalities were due to falls. In New York City, falls accounted for 64% of all construction deaths in 2018.
Common Causes of NYC Construction Site Deaths
The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified the four leading causes of construction site fatalities.
OSHA’s “fatal four” includes:
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Struck by Object
- Caught in or between equipment or machinery
The NYCOSH found that over the past ten years, 69% of all construction fatalities in New York City could be attributed to the fatal four. The same study indicated that as many as 85% of construction deaths in the state were the result of one of the four hazards. Tragically, nearly all injuries and deaths related to the fatal four are preventable.
Calls to Improve Construction Site Safety
As part of their findings, the NYCOSH makes several safety recommendations that may help improve the conditions on construction sites. By holding negligent contractors accountable and expanding safety requirements, it is hoped that many construction accidents will be averted.
Construction site safety recommendations:
- Require training and certification for workers;
- Extend and protect legislation (including New York’s Scaffold Safety Law); and
- Increase “Regulations, Monitoring & Enforcement.”
NYCOSH calls on the New York Department of Labor to create a registry of workplace fatalities, helping to accurately identify and track dangerous construction sites. In addition to several other suggestions, they recommend expanding the ability for prosecutors to hold contractors criminally responsible for failing to protect workers.
Injured at a NYC Construction Site? Contact Our Office
Were you injured at a construction site in New York City? Contact our office today at (718) 650-2135 for a free case consultation. You pay nothing unless we win. Call now to speak directly with an attorney.
