Many construction workers are suffering injuries while working on the Second Avenue subway project.
In April 2009, workers began construction on the Second Avenue subway project, the largest expansion to New York City’s subway system in generations. Phase one of the $4.4 billion project is almost complete, with the blasting for the first station completed in November 2013 and the digging that followed wrapping up in the spring of 2014. Workers employed on the construction of the project have been exposed to dangerous conditions, as safety officials have cited construction companies working on the project for numerous safety violations that have resulted in construction worker injuries.
Construction site safety violations
Since construction picked up speed in 2011, safety officials have reported discovering a number of safety violations at the construction sites. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 18 citations for violation of safety regulations, along with about $61,000 in fines.
Unsafe work conditions stemming from the safety violations have put workers at risk for construction injuries. OSHA investigated at least 12 incidents that resulted in injuries. In one case, a worker trying to repair a conveyor belt fell 20 feet and needed to be hospitalized. Firefighters had to enter the tunnel to rescue another worker who got stuck in muck on the floor that was acting like quicksand. Three of the firefighters were also injured during the four-hour rescue effort.
Construction site injuries
Construction work is, by nature, a dangerous profession – even when construction companies follow safety regulations. OSHA reports that more than 6.5 million workers labor at over 250,000 construction sites across the U.S. each day. According to OSHA, the fatal injury rate among construction workers is higher than the national average for all industries.
Some of the most common hazards that construction workers face include:
- Falls
- Scaffolding collapses
- Ladder collapses
- Trench collapses
- Chemical burns
- Injuries from forklifts and other heavy machinery
- Electrocution
Talk to a lawyer
Construction site injuries are often severe, given the conditions under which people have to work. Those who are injured while on the job usually need extensive time off of work to recover, and they may be permanently disabled. Those who have been injured while working construction should consult a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney with broad experience handling construction accidents to help them obtain the workers’ compensation benefits they need to aid them in recovery. If you have been injured in a construction accident, talk to a skilled workers’ compensation attorney who can help you get the benefits to which you are entitled by law.
Keywords: construction accident; on-the-job injury; construction injury
