A man was killed earlier this month in a tragic explosion at a construction site in New York City. The accident happened on May 13th at just before 9 in the morning as the men were working on the fourth floor of a building located at 341 Ninth Avenue in Chelsea. An investigation into the deadly worksite accident found that the individual was killed when a fire extinguisher exploded.
EMTs rushed to the scene but nothing could be done to save one worker. A second individual who was also injured in the blast was taken to nearby Lenox Healthplex where he was listed in serious condition.
Fire extinguishers, like the one in question, are designed to save lives but by design, they are merely canisters of highly pressurized gas, liquid, and/or solids. At this time, it is unclear whether the canister ruptured due to a manufacturing defect of the valve which controls outflow, or any of the seals or if external causes played a part (like extreme heat or a puncture event). Regardless, these life-saving devices can become safety hazards of the most dangerous kind.
Once the cause of the explosion is determined, both the surviving victim and the family members of the deceased man of this terrible on-the-job accident can file claims in order to seek financial compensation.
If a defect is ruled to be the cause, a claim could be file against the extinguisher’s manufacturer and the property owner and general contractor if they knew or should have known that the extinguisher was dangerous. If working conditions or failure to inspect the extinguisher are found to be contributing factors, under the New York Labor Law, the general contractor and property owner could be found responsible to pay for the workers’ pain and suffering and lost time from work leading into the future.
If you or a loved one has been injured while at a construction site, contact an experienced explosion accident attorney in New York City today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for a free consultation.