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New York worker falls to death in scaffolding accident

On Behalf of | Apr 10, 2014 | Workers' Compensation |

Thousands of New Yorkers get up each morning and head to a construction site to continue work on a new building or renovation project. Unfortunately, construction work often poses significant risk to workers, and there are several types of injuries a person can sustain on the job. Workers’ compensation is designed to help victims of workplace accidents navigate a difficult time and help them get back on track. This money can cover medical expenses as well as lost wages that result from time away from work.

One of the most common accidents among construction workers is a fall from scaffolding. Working on the small and sometimes unstable platforms makes it easy to lose balance and topple off. Although there are safety precautions designed to prevent these falls, employers do not always provide adequate means to ensure their workers stay safe.

A New York construction worker recently fell to his death while working on scaffolding outside the Dream Hotel on Broadway. According to witnesses, the man was working on a platform level to the eighth floor of the building when he fell, his body landing on scaffolding immediately above the hotel’s main entrance. A violation for inadequate safety measures was issued by the Department of Buildings. These safety violations may have contributed to the fall.

This case illustrates the serious injuries workers can sustain from these types of falls. Survivors of scaffolding accidents often suffer broken bones and injuries to the back and neck. These types of injuries can result in paralysis and other long-term disabilities, which can mean missed time at work, lost wages and even a lost job or career. To complicate matters for workers, business owners often combat compensation claims in an effort to pay as little as possible or avoid paying altogether. For this reason, victims of worksite falls and injuries need to pursue their workers’ compensation aggressively in order to obtain the support they need to work through difficult times.

Source: CBS New York, “Construction Worker Killed In Fall From Scaffolding At Midtown Hotel,” April 2, 2014

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