Worker Sustained Major Injury After Falling From Ladder At Future Amusement Park In Midtown, Manhattan
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (July 30, 2023) – A construction worker was seriously injured after falling from a ladder at a future amusement ride site in Midtown.
New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around noon on Tuesday. A worker was on a ladder when he fell six or seven feet.
The ladder was apparently struck by a piece of equipment being hoisted by an excavator. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the worker.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a major injury. Inspectors from the Department of Buildings were called to the site.
They issued a summons for a failure to institute safety measures after they determined the hoisting operation was not coordinating with the rest of the workforce.
Liability For New York Ladder Fall Accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in the construction industry. Ladders can be particularly hazardous. According to Occupational Health & Safety, “unfortunately, 161 people suffered a fatal injury from a ladder in 2020. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 65% of those ladder fatalities came from movable ladders.” There are a number of steps that construction companies should take in order to protect workers from ladder falls.
- Ladders should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe.
- Ladders should be properly braced at the bottom of the ladder.
- For extension ladders, workers should always obey the 4-1 rule. In short, the base of the ladder should always be one feet away from the base of the building for every 4 feet in height.
- Workers should be trained to maintain at least three points of contact with a ladder at all times.
Construction companies are held strictly liable for gravity related accidents under New York State Labor Law § 240(1). This covers instances where a worker falls from a height. It also covers accidents where a worker is injured by a falling object. In order for the law to apply, the injured worker must have been performing a qualifying task including “the erection, demolition, repairing, altering, painting, cleaning or pointing of a building or structure.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any ladder fall accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An experienced construction accident attorney should be contacted.
Workplace accidents can be particularly difficult to deal with. Many workers are not able to return to work for significant periods. In many situations, a worker might be so injured that they never return to their occupation. It is important for victims of workplace accidents to know that they do have rights. Any person that is injured in a ladder fall may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Midtown Ladder Fall Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the worker injured in this Midtown ladder fall accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other accidents like this.
Have you or someone that you love been injured in a Midtown ladder accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of construction accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
