Troubling Increase in High-Rise Construction Accidents

Business Week recently reported that high-rise construction accidents are on the rise in New York City. This news probably isn’t a surprise to the thousands of the city’s hard working construction workers, and many are wondering what is being done to bring and end to these largely preventable accidents. We all know that these accidents won’t go away on their own, especially considering New York’s current high-rise building boom. So what’s causing all of these accidents, and what is being done to make the city’s construction sites safe for workers?

Construction industry experts cite several reasons for the increase in high-rise accidents, including unrealistic building schedules, faulty equipment, and an ineffective inspection process. Sadly, these accidents caused injuries to 52 workers last year and five deaths, up significantly from 2006.

Recent High-Rise Accidents

Two recent New York City high-rise deaths underscore the importance of improved oversight and safety measures needed to keep workers safe:

• A worker at the Trump SoHo hotel-condominium complex was killed in January when a framework holding freshly-poured concrete collapsed. Another worker who fell at the same time from a different side of the building was saved by a safety net. Nearby residents had complained that a crane used in the construction project had slammed into adjacent buildings, and officials are considering whether the crane caused the accident or if it was the amount of concrete that was poured.
• An architect working on a new Goldman Sachs headquarters was killed in December when seven tons of steel were dropped on the construction trailer where he was working. A nylon sling suspended from a crane was carrying the steel when it snapped, causing the accident.

Contributing Factors

The demand for crane operators is so high in the city right now that many are working on jobsites before they are fully licensed. Considering the enormous risks inherent in operating such a large piece of machinery, it’s an outrage that site supervisors allow this to happen. Workers are also in great demand; however, recent years have seen a reduction in skilled workers. This means that contractors are often taking on less-experienced replacements so they can stick to their schedules.

Experts have also cited improper use of required safety nets as a problem. Building code violations related to improper net use were up about 53% in 2007, and a number of accidents have resulted from debris and workers tumbling from buildings and not being caught as expected.

As usual, the profit motive of high-rise builders comes into play in the accident increase. With prices of raw materials like steel and concrete on the rise, builders are eager to finish projects quickly in order to cut costs. Complaints from impatient clients and irritated residents only add to this push to complete building tasks as quickly as possible. Many contractors are being offered financial incentives to finish their work as quickly as possible, and some industry analysts speculate that this rush to the finish line is causing contractors to cut corners. Other time-saving practices common in the city are coming into question as well, for example pouring concrete floors in half the time that is allocated in other markets.

The challenges of working with concrete are often cited as the cause of accidents. It’s estimated that about 60% of falling-debris accidents in 2007 happened while crews were pouring concrete. Reasons for these concrete-pouring induced accidents range from storing equipment too close to the edge of a building and not providing adequate support for concrete forms, which become extremely heavy and unwieldy once filled. Some investigators have speculated that the death of the Trump SoHo worker could have been the result of a concrete “blowout”, caused when the wet concrete broke free from its form and poured from the top of the building like lava.

Trivial Punishments

The Business Week article stated that the average fine levied against contractors is $1,700. This is a ridiculously trivial amount, considering that most high-rise projects are multi-million dollar undertakings. Can we really expect contractors and building owners to take accidents seriously if the only “punishment” they’ll receive is a negligible fine?

Hopefully the task forces examining the problem of construction accidents in the city will consider something more than more rules and regulations. If existing rules and regulations aren’t being followed and they aren’t being enforced, what good will it do to merely pass more laws? Additionally, studies have shown that construction site regulations do little to improve accident and fatality rates, and researchers have called for proven reforms. Says one Finnish researcher, "The construction industry needs to take a serious look at the ways that it attempts to keep its workforce safe and check that the interventions they call for have a proven track record of success."

We couldn’t agree more. The city’s hard working construction crews deserve real reform of construction regulations, and meaningful, proven steps that will make job sites safer.

The Law Office of Peter Panas cares about the safety of New York City’s construction workers. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, Peter Panas wants to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact our office today and find out how you we can help you recover from your injuries and get you the compensation you deserve.

Law Office of Peter Panas, PC
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New York, NY 10001
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