A construction accident in Manhattan sent one worker to the hospital after a fall late last month. The unidentified 60-year old man fell from a ladder that was part of a complex series of scaffolding in the subway system beneath Second Avenue and East 69th Street. Rescue workers called the maze of ladders and metal work a “complicated system” erected below street level and had difficulty getting the injured man to safety.
The construction is part of the refurbishment of the 2nd Avenue subway and the rescue was made more difficult because the victim fell at a point that’s not easily accessible from either above or below ground. Fire crews had to use a crane and hook system to lift the man up to where he could be carried to an ambulance.
While the fall was relatively short (roughly 6-8 feet) such falls from ladders in New York can prove deadly and have done so in the past. In fact falls from ladders and other elevated work spaces are one of OSHA’s “Fatal Five” construction accidents-responsible for more fatalities than any other types of accident in the workplace.
Section 240 New York Labor Law specifically pertains to elevated construction either on the upper stories of buildings or on elevated scaffolding (above or below ground). The provisions in this specific clause state that workers must be protected by proper installation of scaffolding and safety barriers to prevent falls at work. If the scaffolding or barriers are deemed in adequate, incomplete, or missing altogether, the general contractor in charge of the construction and the owners of the property could be held liable for any injuries caused by a fall.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident in New York because of someone else negligence or oversight, you too could have legal options available to you. Contact an expert New York City Construction accident attorney today to discuss your case . Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.