Two construction workers were injured in a construction accident this month in Ithaca, New York. According to news reports, construction workers were working on the site where a new Fairfield Inn is being built along Elmira Road on the morning of January 5 when the accident occurred. Two construction workers fell more than 30 feet. One of the workers was flown to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse while the other was airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania. The extent of their injuries is unknown as is the cause of the accident.
Construction Accident Falls
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, the construction industry in general suffers the second highest number of work-related fatal accidents each year. Only the transportation industry suffers more work-related fatalities than the construction industry. Within the construction industry, falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and fatalities each year. In fact, from 1992 to 2010, falls were the most common cause of workplace fatalities each year within the construction industry in the State of New York.
Construction falls can occur because a worker falls off of a roof, a ladder, scaffolding, or any of the other myriad surfaces that a construction worker is required to work on or walk over during the course of the day. The very nature of the construction industry makes it ripe for falls. Typically, workers are working on buildings that are in the process of being built, torn down, or repaired. Often, this means that stable flooring is not present and/or that the workers must climb up ladders or scaffolding to reach their work area.
Employers are required, by law, to provide safe working environments for their workers. When workers are required to climb up ladders, the ladder must be secure. If a worker must work on scaffolding, the scaffolding must be up to code and the proper safety equipment supplied to the worker. For each potential hazard there is an appropriate safety method that should be adhered to by the employer.
Unfortunately, employers and other parties involved in the construction industry do not always follow proper safety procedures. If you have been injured in a New York construction accident, you could be entitled to third party compensation in lieu of, or in addition to, workers’ compensation. All too often, workers’ compensation benefits fail to adequately compensate the victim of a construction accident. Furthermore, given the fact that numerous different companies are often working at the same site, there is a chance that someone other than your own employer may have contributed to your injuries.
Contact the New York/New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., to find out what legal options you may have if you have been injured on a construction job. For your free consultation, fill out our online contact form.