Construction workers often work under extremely hazardous conditions. Not surprisingly, the construction industry consistently has the second highest number of work-related accidents, behind only the transportation industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. Along with the myriad of other hazards that can cause injuries on a construction site, mobile construction equipment stands out as a leading cause. [Read more…]
Dangling Crane in Manhattan Blamed on Hurricane Sandy
It took a week before workers were able to secure the boom of a construction crane that snapped in the winds of Hurricane Sandy and dangled from the top story of a luxury high-rise under construction in midtown Manhattan. Engineers climbed to the top of the 74-story building during the storm to inspect the crane, and nearby buildings, including a hotel, were evacuated. Although city officials think the superstorm was to blame for the accident, they are examining the crane’s original positioning to determine whether it was properly secured prior to the storm. [Read more…]
New York Construction Firm Cited for Fatal Crane Accident
The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a New York crane company for safety violations in a crane collapse that killed a worker in Manhattan last April, according to a report on phillyburbs.com. The fines, totaling $68,000, were for safety violations that contributed to the collapse at a subway line extension site. Sadly, a 30-year-old worker Burlington City construction worker was fatally injured when the crane crumbled on top of him. The subcontractor that employed the worker also has been cited. [Read more…]
Mechanic Sentenced in Fatal Manhattan Crane Collapse
A mechanic has been sentenced to a year of community service for his part in the deadly collapse of a crane in Manhattan in 2008. Authorities said the mechanic had performed a “penny-pinching, shoddy repair to a crucial component of the 200-foot-tall crane,” which snapped apart just one month later. Two workers were killed and many other people were injured. [Read more…]
New York City Trial Wraps Up for Crane Inspector Charged in Fatal Crane Accident
Just days after a tragic 2008 New York City crane accident that resulted in seven deaths, authorities arrested and charged a crane inspector in connection with the construction accident. The trial, which wrapped up last week, shed light on a significant problem in the construction industry—a lack of adherence to safety measures that are intended to save lives. [Read more…]
New York City Crane Operators Face New Licensing Requirements
Anyone who lives in or near New York City, or who has ever visited the metropolis, knows that just as the city never sleeps, construction never stops. New York City seems to be the construction capital of the world. Buildings seem to grow ever taller, old buildings are torn down to make room for new ones, and even relatively new buildings appear to get a face lift every few years. The hum of construction equipment is as pervasive as the sound of taxis honking. [Read more…]
Deadly Crane Accident at Manhattan Work Site
A construction crane collapsed in Manhattan, killing one and injuring four others. The FDNY said the crane boom came apart in two pieces, according to the Associated Press, one 80 feet long and the other 40 feet long. According to numerous sources, the crane was due for an inspection a mere two days after the accident. [Read more…]