A New York City construction accident investigators are calling completely “preventable” claimed the life of a man at a jobsite in Times Square earlier this week. 59-year old Jose Cruz was working 18-feet above the pavement at 1604 Broadway around midday on Wednesday April 12th when he slipped and fell from an I-Beam. He tumbled roughly one story and landed on the pavement below.
Rescue crews arrived and rushed him to Mount Sinai Hospital but they were unable to stabilize him. He was declared dead shortly thereafter. Sadly, if proper safety precautions had been used, this preventable fall from heights accident in Time Square probably have been avoided and Cruz may still be alive today.
An investigation into this deadly fall from heights in Manhattan uncovered several glaring safety hazards on the jobsite and in regard to this particular accident. Evidence and eyewitness testimony shows Cruz was not wearing a safety harness or fall-arrest device nor were proper barriers/scaffolding in place in the above-street-level work area. In fact, a DOB representative told media outlets that the entire jobsite appeared to be dangerous and a full stop work order was issued until several of the safety deficiencies are remedied. The spokesperson believed the jobsite may be shut down for a while.
The company in charge of the renovations the New York construction accident site has been cited twice before by OSHA for safety violations (including once for inadequate scaffolding). They were also hit with seven serious violations at yet another jobsite but are contesting the OSHA fines in that case.
The property owner and general contractor for the project will be held absolutely liable for the accident if it is shown that there was a violation under the New York Labor Law which provides that safety equipment must be provided to workers when working from heights.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a fall at a jobsite in the city, contact a New York City fall from heights accident attorney today