BREAKING NEWS
Times Square construction worker cheats death after underground wall collapse

December 12, 2008 -- A New York City construction worker was hospitalized in critical condition after a century-old underground wall collapsed on him early yesterday morning near Port Authority in Times Square.

The 30-year-old man, buried from the waste down in brick, metal and mortar, was pulled from a 10-foot-deep excavation pit at 11 Times Square and rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent surgery on his legs.

Three other workers were also injured in the wall collapse, which occurred at 4:17 a.m. near 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue.

General contractor Plaza Construction is responsible for safety at the site. The Buildings Department has already issued more than a dozen violations to Plaza Construction for serious infractions involving the safety of workers, property and the public. Those infractions were reportedly corrected, a company spokesperson told the media.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident, one in many that have occurred this year in the city’s dangerous construction industry.

Safety violations on the rise

After years of representing injured construction workers, our law firm recognizes a disturbing trend in the industry: Safety violations are at an all-time high in New York City. This has led to unacceptable rates of accidents and fatalities, especially in tower crane accidents.

In 2007, 14 workers in the city died from falls, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That figure may be matched this year as two deadly crane collapses and a 40-story fall by a worker on September 4 have already claimed the lives of nine people in 2008.

So far, in 2008, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined 46 construction sites in New York City for 129 safety violations totaling $247,400. Nearly a third of the violations involved fall hazards.

Finally, a law firm for the construction worker

If you or a relative were injured at work, or you lost a family member in a construction accident, allow Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. to defend your claim and win every dollar in compensation you are entitled to.

Trust a seasoned construction law firm like Weitz & Luxenberg to interface with insurance company representatives. We speak their language and will defend your right to maximum compensation. For a free evaluation of your personal injury claim, please use the short communication form on this page. We are here to help.

see also:

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NYC construction safety violations New York City construction sites fined for 129 safety violations
Construction industry safety violations against 46 New York City sites

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Construction Site Safety and Warnings to prevent accidents