Construction Accidents

Construction Accident News

Construction Related Accidents Drop by 84% in 2009 According to NYC Health Department Report

It should come as no surprise to anyone that in a year that saw fewer residential and professional buildings go up due to poor economic conditions -- initial permits issued for major construction decreased 33% in 2009 -- there was a significant decrease in fatal construction-related accidents, 84% fewer to be exact when compared to the previous year.

Fatalities on job sites totaled 3 in 2009 compared to 19 in 2008, 12 in 2007 and 18 in 2006. There is little doubt that the relentless efforts of the NY State Trial Lawyers Association and of the hundreds of independent New York Construction Accident Lawyers have had a significant impact on the decrease in job site fatalities. Pressure from the trial lawyers group has resulted in increased oversight of high-risk construction operations and new programs and initiatives designed to raise safety awareness industry-wide.

However, despite the good news regarding fatal accidents, the actual number of all construction-related accidents and injuries rose in 2009. The NYC Department of Health claims that the increase is primarily due to “more accident reporting by industry members.”

Two construction-related fatalities in 2009 were due to improper and lack of use of a safety harness. The third death was cause when a concrete wall in Staten Island collapsed on a worker. Falls are clearly the most common cause of worker fatality on construction sites: 8 of the 19 deaths reported in 2008 were due to falls.

All reported construction accidents increased from 151 in 2008 to 224 in 2009, and the total number of reported injuries rose from 178 in 2008 to 246 in 2009.