For the better part of a decade the number of fatal construction accidents in New York City has been on the decline. While there are a number of factors that have played a role in this decline, many safety advocates like to point to stricter laws and regulations, increased inspections, and tougher sanctions for violators. However, in spite of all the additional oversight that construction sites are subjected to the number of fatal constructions accidents in New York City over the past 18 months has increased dramatically, hitting a 7-year high.
Many experts are now pointing to the economic slump-specifically the decrease in active job sites around New York City-as the reason for this seemingly positive change. Fewer workers on the job likely translated into fewer accidents across the city.
Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress, said in a statement that because the economy has picked up and because the construction industry is once again booming in New York, that the city should brace for a rapid increase in construction accidents in the near future. “The more jobs we have, it either means fewer workers doing more work, or more workers who may not have as much experience or training.”
And data shows that this combination can indeed be deadly. An OSHA study from 2010 showed that non-unionized workers (ostensibly those with less experience and on the job training) were three times more likely to die on the jobsite as unionized workers.
But with this new boom in full swing and the number of construction jobs increasing at roughly 5% per year in the Big Apple, it’s likely this situation will get much worse before it gets any better.
Union or otherwise, if you or a family member is injured in an accident on a jobsite, contact a New York City construction accident lawyer to safeguard your rightful claim to monetary compensation for your injuries. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.