When you get injured while at work, it is important for workers’ compensation purposes that you are a qualifying employee of the company. In New York, the state has made it easier for contractors working on construction sites to be fully covered by the main employer’s workers’ compensation insurance through the 2010 Construction Industry Fair Play Act. According to the…
Concerns about construction safety have recently surfaced after a tragic accident near Orlando, Florida. Two construction workers were pouring concrete for a new hotel when part of their scaffold collapsed. The workers fell six floors and died on the scene. A third worker was able to grab onto a part of the scaffold and pull himself out of harm’s way.…
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes numbness and tingling in the hand and arm caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist. According to Mayo Clinic, anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space may lead to this injury. Many factors contribute to the development of carpal tunnel, and some risk factors may…
The cost of losing sleep at night can play out in dangerous ways at work. Not getting enough sleep and/or quality sleep has proven effects on physical and mental functioning. When this becomes a habit, the likelihood for mistakes and injury significantly increases. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation also dramatically raises the chances of accident-related deaths. It is hard…
Cranes are one of the most essential tools in New York construction sites. They are also some of the most dangerous machines to operate. Construction workers on site and passing pedestrians can be at serious risk of injury from fallen materials or the crane itself. Here are a few key aspects about the work environment to check. The operator’s condition…
In late June, three construction workers were hospitalized when a mini crane crashed down in an East Harlem construction site. Authorities said the crane struck two employees while a third employee fell approximately three floors. The construction crew was installing a curtain wall in a building near East 126th Street and Lexington Avenue. The mini crane fell from the fourth…
Construction workers face many different hazards on a regular basis, especially if they work in high places or use dangerous machinery. However, there are many other risks to watch out for, such as electrocution. Workers are electrocuted in many different ways and these accidents can lead to serious injuries or even the loss of life. On construction sites across the…
With the rising temperatures has come a rise in people out to make our roads drivable again. Road construction workers have a tough job. Not only are they out in the hot sun, there are hundreds of drivers passing by them, posing another element of danger to an already risky job. Here are a few things to keep in mind…
Summer is fast approaching and with rising temperatures come new risks at the job site. Between the pavement and the reflective buildings, the heat will multiply at construction sites around the city. As you’re working at the site, there are precautions you can take to make sure you’re prepared for a safe day in the summer heat. Stay hydrated One…
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health released it’s annual “Dirty Dozen” report of the country’s most dangerous employers last week, in honor of Workers’ Memorial Week. Too many people die and suffer serious injuries on the job each year. While many people think of workplace deaths as a minor problem, there has been a 12 percent increase since…
While workplaces overall have become much safer over the past century, some jobs remain inherently dangerous. The rate of accidents and injuries in these professions is often a good barometer for judging the culture of workplace safety overall. This may be especially true of the construction industry. Being a construction worker comes with a higher risk of workplace injuries and…
The opioid crisis is a major issue for cities and states throughout the United States. One of the contributors to the crises is injured workers who receive ongoing pain medications or the incorrect type of medication for their injury. The workers who were over-prescribed would often get addicted. New York is one of a handful of states to propose the…
