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Ironworker Accidents Lawyer in NYC
Ironworkers climb tall buildings with scalding hot welding equipment. It is one the deadliest jobs on construction sites, and one of the ten deadliest jobs in the United States. Ironworker accidents account for almost twenty-six percent (26%) of all job site related deaths in 2019. According to OSHA, ironworker accidents are common and often deadly or debilitating. Iron workers can be hurt from falls, and dropped or falling objects. Ironworker accidents on construction sites can cause broken bones, fractures, amputations and even death.
New York Labor Law and Safety Standards
Construction site safety is important to the people of New York City and our Ironworkers. Fortunately, New York follows common law negligence principles along with established statutory rules to protect worker safety. New Yorkโs main statutory scheme for construction site injuries includes three main sections of the law โ Labor Law ยงยง200, 240 and 241(6).ย Labor law ยง240(1) (commonly referred to as the Scaffold Law) holds owners and general contractors fully liable for failing to provide appropriate safety devices meant to prevent gravity-related accidents, such as scaffolds, ladders, hoists, pulleys, chains, blocks, and other devices to prevent falls and to prevent objects from falling on workers.ย Labor Law ยง241(6) dictates a wide variety of safety obligations for owners and general contractors at construction sites by requiring owners and contractors to comply with Rule 23 of the Industrial Code. ย Violations under these rules are very fact specific and often result in complex litigation. A general safety claim will not suffice.ย Rather, a specific violation under Rule 23 must be advanced in a section 241(6) claim. Lastly, where owners and /or contractors control the work being done on a worksite or where there is an inherent danger in the site itself, owners and contractors can be held liable for a violation of Labor Law Section 200..
It is imperative that any worker hurt on a construction site consult an experienced NYC construction accident lawyer quickly so the lawyer and investigator can secure that workerโs rights.ย This is especially true since insurance carriers and investigators are usually working hard to defeat a workerโs claim from the moment the accident occurs.
While workers injured on construction sites are entitled to workersโ compensation benefits to pay their medical bills and lost wages, liability under New York Labor Law will also afford an injured worker much greater compensation for damages such as pain and suffering, additional medical bills, rehabilitation bills, lost wages and more. If an owner or contractor on a construction project are found to have violated these rules, they will be held liable for far greater damages than a Workerโs Compensation Claim.
The Ironworkers International Union has identified twelve (12) deadly hazards on construction sites and started a safety initiative called, โCountdown to Zero.โย The 2021 Countdown to Zero Campaign brings awareness and works to ensure the safety of all ironworkers on construction sites by eliminating all ironworker accidents and incidents.
Typical Ironworker Accident Causes
- Falls
- Dropped and Falling Objects
- Improper Safety Procedures
- Faulty or Defective Equipment
- Collapsing Walls or Other Structures
- Struck by Object Injury
Common Ironworker Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Being impaled
- Amputations
- Electrocutions
- Head and Neck Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
New York Construction Accident Lawyers
The personal injury lawyers of Pazer Epstein Jaffe Fein & Gozenput, P.C. are committed to ironworkers and workplace safety. Ironworker accidents are too common in New York. New York Labor Law requires that owners and contractors provide a safe work environment for their employees. If you are an ironworker and have been injured, we are here to help recover financial compensation for the damages you suffered.
We encourage any ironworker hurt in an accident to contact us for a free consultation. New York Law limits the time to file a claim. We are in New York City and may be reached at (212) 847-5007 or in Long Island at (718) 954-9986.
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