Construction Site Explosion Kills NYC Worker
A recent seemingly freak accident caused by an exploding fire extinguisher in Manhattan left one construction worker dead and one other seriously injured. The accident took place on the fourth floor of a building located on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea on the morning of May 13. The fire extinguisher is reported to have exploded for unknown reasons, and emergency medical crews were dispatched to the site where one construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene while another was taken to a nearby hospital (where he is listed in serious condition). If you’ve been injured in a construction accident, don’t delay consulting with an experienced NYC construction accident attorney.
Construction Is a Dangerous Profession
Construction work is inherently dangerous. As a construction worker, all of the following risks apply:
- Working with heavy equipment
- Working among electrical wiring that is often left dangling or otherwise poorly secured
- Working from heights (on scaffolding, ladders, and various kinds of equipment)
- Working at job sites that are in various stages of completion
- Working among many other construction workers who are engaged in a variety of pursuits, which makes the issue of safety that much more complicated
Construction work is dangerous to begin with, but when something as random as an exploding fire extinguisher takes place, it highlights exactly how dangerous. While the cause of the explosion is yet unknown, liability in the matter could lie with the construction company, the job supervisor, and/or the manufacturer of the extinguisher.
Your Employer’s Duty of Care
The law recognizes that construction work is especially risky work, and as such, construction companies are held to stricter rules and regulations related to safety. Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) grants you, as a construction worker, all of the following rights:
- The right to work in reasonably safe conditions that don’t put you at unnecessary risk of being seriously injured
- The right to receive the necessary safety training and information related to hazards on the job, accident prevention, and OSHA standards specific to construction work
- The right to access to the construction company’s records that specify work-related injuries and illnesses
- The right to lodge a complaint with OSHA requesting a safety inspection if you identify a serious risk on the job or witness nonadherence to OSHA’s safety rules and regulations and the right to have your complaint kept confidential
- The right to exercise all of the above rights – including the right to file a complaint with OSHA – without being retaliated against by your employer
Our NYC Construction Accident Attorneys Have the Experience You Seek
The dedicated construction accident attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman in New York City leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice for our clients. Our firm is one of the oldest and best-regarded in the City, and we’re committed to using our considerable experience and resources to build your strongest case and to help you obtain your rightful compensation. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 212-285-3300 today.
