A worker was reportedly killed by an elevator at a construction site in Midtown Manhattan, NYC.
According to police, the accident occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. October 24 at 1227 Broadway Avenue between 29th and 30th Street.
The 24-year-old worker was reportedly riding a construction elevator to the 33rd floor when he dropped his phone and was somehow crushed by a metal saddle that protruded from the elevator shaft.
The worker was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other workers sustained minor injuries.
Police are still investigating the incident, but the worker’s death appears to be accidental. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is also conducting an investigation. The agency released the following statement:
“This was an entirely preventable tragedy. Construction is a dangerous business, which is why the Department enforces some of the most stringent worker safety regulations in the country, and why all people on a construction site should be alert and fully aware of any potential hazards. DOB investigators from our Construction Safety and Elevator Enforcement units are conducting a thorough investigation of yesterday’s incident.”
Despite strict regulations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hundreds of construction workers are killed in the U.S. every year, and thousands more suffer serious injuries. One in 10 construction site accidents lead to a worker fatality.
Being caught and crushed between objects like machinery, heavy machinery, or rolling objects is one of OSHA’s ‘fatal four’ accidents for construction site workers.
Workers injured or the families of workers killed while on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation. In cases involving death, the surviving family of victims can also file a construction death lawsuit and seek compensation in a court of law, especially if federal protection agencies like DOB find the employer liable.
As with any legal case, it is important to seek the help of an attorney when filing a lawsuit. An attorney can be instrumental in ensuring the family of workplace death victims receive the full compensation they deserve.
South Florida Workers’ Compensation Attorney
If you or your loved one was injured at a job site, you should hire an attorney. Contact us for a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced workers’ compensation defense attorneys.