Construction Worker Died After Falling While Assisting Licensed Electrician Install Metal Framing
MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN (January 26, 2025) – A 45-year-old construction worker has tragically died while working on a building in Midtown, Manhattan.
New York City officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:40 AM by E. 49th St. and Park Avenue. The victim was assisting a master electrician install a piece of metal framing for electrical wiring.
He was walking on top of a drywall ceiling when he fell 40 feet below and landed on the third-story ballroom. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures from EMS, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Manhattan Construction Accidents
Despite many years of improved safety standards, the construction industry still has many deaths and serious injuries every year. A large portion of the injuries and deaths involve people who fell. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 2021, nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry. Just over one-third of construction deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. Of these, almost all were from falls to a lower level. The construction industry accounted for 46.2 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2021.” Construction companies should take a number of measures in order to prevent falls.
- Construction companies should develop a fall protection plan.
- Construction workers should be provided with personal fall arrest systems when they are working above 6 feet.
- Construction workers should be trained to recognize fall hazards.
- Construction sites should have safety features like guard rails and safety nets in certain locations.
A building owner or general contractor could potentially be liable for any instance where a construction worker is injured in a fall. Pursuant to New York State Labor Law § 240/241, a construction company could be liable for any gravity-related accident that injured their worker. This includes accidents where a worker falls or is struck by a falling object. Victims of workplace falls tend to suffer very serious injuries.
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord damage
- Had trauma
- Death
It could be hard to know where to begin if you’ve been injured in a construction accident. These accidents often leave workers with serious and lifelong injuries. Many may never be able to return to their previous profession. Nearly all workplace falls are preventable when the right safety measures are being followed. In far too many instances, construction companies failed to follow safety standards or provide their workers with necessary safety equipment.
Investigating New York City Construction Falls
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the construction worker who died in the Midtown, Manhattan fall. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Any person who may have more information should reach out to OSHA. There are so many questions about what happened that still remain unanswered. Was this worker being provided with adequate safety gear such as a personal fall arrest system?
Do you need more information about a midtown construction accident? Our team of construction accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We have decades of experience investigating construction accidents and helping victims get the justice that they deserve. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
