New Jersey roofers Rob Nuckols and Martin Davis reported to work as usual Monday morning. But a construction accident later that day left both men severely burned, according to news reports.

Nuckols and Davis were working on replacing a roof at the Swepco Tube manufacturing plant in Clifton, New Jersey when the roof suddenly collapsed. Davis then plunged 40 feet into a tub of nitric acid positioned below.

Nitric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent, which can cause chemical burns. Concentrated nitric acid attacks tissues and stains skin. Swepco used it to clean metal pipes.

The tank Davis fell into contained a 40 to 70 percent diluted nitric acid solution. He was fully submerged. Nuckols then jumped into the tank to save his coworker.

Firemen arrived on the scene and sprayed both men with water. Nuckols and Davis each suffered burns, with Davis’s burns being much more severe. Davis was airlifted to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Clifton, New Jersey where he is still being treated for head-to-toe chemical burns. Nuckols was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey. He was treated and released that same day.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident. According to Fire Chief Vince Colavitti, the contracting company that the men were working for did not have a building permit. Clifton City Manager Matthew Watkins said that the company would be fined.

If you are hurt in a New York or New Jersey construction site fall accident, we may be able to help. We have represented many construction workers who were injured on the job, and we know what legal and financial hurdles you face.

Contact our New York or New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., today to discuss your case and how we might be able to help.