New York construction accidents slowly decreasing

According to New York City data, the number of injuries experienced by workers in construction accidents has begun to decrease. From 2010 to 2011 there was a 7.8 percent decrease in the number of workplace accidents that resulted in at least one injury to an employee. The total number of accidents fell by approximately 18 percent last year.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg cited the 2008 safety measures as the reason for the decline. “Even as construction activity rose by nearly 8 percent last year, the number of construction-related accidents fell,” he said.

The safety rules he was talking about included a prohibition on smoking which helps reduce the chance that a fire will start. Safety measures called “cocoons” act as protective barriers that stop debris from falling and injuring workers below.

Citations and stop-work orders have also helped prevent injuries in places that are unsafe for workers. Over 5,100 of the stop-work orders were issued in 2011 by the city Buildings Department. The orders were issued when construction site operators violated the city’s safety rules.

Holding employers responsible for their safety failures is another way to help reduce accidents. An injured worker can seek compensation through a lawsuit to recover for lost wages and damages for the injuries that resulted. When an employer is held liable for their negligent behavior, they may think twice about cutting safety corners in the future.

Although a reduction in the number of construction site accidents is certainly something to celebrate, we should not be so quick to think the problem is over. Accidents still happen, and even with the decrease, there were five accidents in 2011 which resulted in the death of one or more workers. That number has increased in the past year.

Source: Bloomberg, “New York City Building-Safety Laws Cut Accidents 18%, Mayor Bloomberg Says,” Henry Goldman, Jan. 23, 2012