Preventing Bronx Construction Site Accidents: A Comprehensive Guide

Key Takeaways
Construction worker fatalities in NYC increased for the third year in a row, with 24 deaths in 2022.
Common construction site accidents include slip and fall events, electrocutions, vehicle accidents, and collapses.
Effective job training should include proper PPE discussion, new equipment coverage, and diverse presentations.
Frequent injuries include traumatic brain injuries, burns, cuts, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and amputations.
Preventing worker fatigue involves avoiding double shifts and excessive work hours.
OSHA inspectors can identify unsafe practices and suggest improvements.
Prompt accident reporting allows for investigation, documentation, and implementation of safety measures.
Safety audits should be conducted at least bi-monthly on NYC construction sites.
Construction sites must provide clear instructions on responding to COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
Injured workers should contact a Bronx construction accident law firm to investigate and fight for maximum compensation.

Everyone must redouble their efforts to obey the strictest safety standards since Bronx construction site accidents are increasing again. In early February of 2024, NYCOSH (The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health) released its annual report on worker fatalities. That publication’s use of the words “Deadly Skyline” in its title spoke volumes.

Based on data from 2022 (the most recent statistics available), NYCOSH concluded that construction workers are dying again at rates like those present before the pandemic. The group noted that 2022 was the third year in a row when NYC construction worker fatalities increased. Sadly, twenty-four (24) New York City construction employees died in 2022 due to job injuries.

The following material reviews common types of construction site accidents, suggestions for providing better job training, a brief list of frequent injuries, and a look at critical safety guidelines that can help lower annual injuries and deaths. Every skyline should be a work of art and not a reminder of endless human sorrows.

Common Bronx construction site accidents tied to catastrophic injuries and death

• Slip and fall events
• Electrocutions
• Accidents involving moving vehicles
• Trench or wall collapses
• Injuries sustained while on scaffolding – or falling below it
• Explosions and fires
• Damage or harm caused by falling objects
• Getting caught between various construction site objects
• Repetitive hand injuries. While these are not usually catastrophic, side effects like carpal tunnel can cause workers to lose many days off the job
• Collapsing ground incidents – unrelated to trench accidents or walls caving in
• Misuse of different types of dangerous equipment – often without proper training
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Lack of appropriate signage in the workplace – and on highways where crews are building new roads and freeways
• Burn injuries
• Improper use of ladders
• Failure to build proper guardrails
• Harm caused by malfunctioning construction site elevators

While this list is not intended to be exhaustive, it provides a clear snapshot of the many ways that even careful workers can suffer serious harm on Bronx construction sites.

Suggestions for ways to conduct more useful on the job training sessions

• All workers must be required to attend, no matter how experienced they may be. You can often easily manage the attention of your most experienced construction workers by asking them to take part in certain equipment demonstrations. You might also ask them to share their daily safety practices that might help others. Since it’s important to meet weekly job deadlines, workers may often have to attend training sessions in shifts.
• Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) must be discussed with all workers. They should be taught when they must wear proper PPE – and to seek the advice of their supervisors when they’re uncertain. Construction site owners must provide properly maintained PPE during every work shift. Failure to abide by this safety standard can lead to major OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) fines — both before and after construction site workers are injured on the job.

• All types of new equipment must be discussed with every worker as early as possible. Even if many employees will not be asked to use certain tools, they must receive safety warnings about how every new piece of equipment can potentially harm those nearby.
• Workers must be told that some types of tools and equipment can only be used by employees who have earned proper certifications.
• Diverse types of training presentations should be offered. Live training workshops can be useful, and effectively combined with online training completed at home. All training should be followed — as quickly as possible – by live question-and-answer sessions.
• Prior to new training sessions, employers should conduct surveys among their employees to find out what types of presentations they prefer.
• Before each new training session, employers must make a list of their most important training objectives. This can increase the chances that workers will retain the material.
• Ask all employees to help train and supervise the newest workers. This should only occur after the new hires have fully completed all the employer’s required formal training sessions.
• Ask every employee to sign a roster for each meeting. That way, it’s easier to quickly schedule makeup sessions for the absentees upon their return. Remember that recordkeeping is important for many reasons – and it can help employers later prove that all injured employees were provided with proper, timely training. Refresher training classes should also be periodically required.
• Be sure to ask questions of your trainees at the end of each meeting – or have them take simple tests. Workers will try to listen more carefully when they realize that you’re measuring their comprehension. However, don’t threaten employee job security unless too many tests are failed. Be sure to address this issue in your hiring contracts.
• Always include material on what constitutes sexual harassment. This is important, even if you hire few female employees. Explain your warning procedures and when an offending worker can be fired. Clearly set forth these procedures in every hiring contract.
• Remember to provide the training sessions in multiple languages – based on all relevant state and federal guidelines.
• Try to keep most training sessions brief – even if that means scheduling more than one a month. Workers will appreciate this type of respect — and can more readily remember what they’ve been taught.
• If you decide to require written exams after training sessions, decide in advance how many times workers can retake exams. This general topic should be covered in your hiring contracts under grounds for firing or dismissal.

General overview of injuries often reported by Bronx construction workers

• Traumatic brain injuries. As might be expected, many of these can require multiple surgeries — and lengthy rehabilitative therapies and services.
• Serious burns, cuts, and lacerations
• Fractured or broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries. These can lead to several types of paralysis. Fortunately, many new treatments and therapies can help some workers fully recover – or at least be able to return to new types of jobs.

• Internal organ injuries
• Amputations
• COVID-19 and various other respiratory infections
• Damage to employees’ ears and eyes
• Psychological harm. The various conditions that can develop may include depression or PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). These types of injuries have become common after workers incur serious personal harm. They can also develop after employees see their co-workers suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.

General safety guidelines that can help improve employee health and longevity

• Periodic and unannounced drug screen tests. These should be run throughout each year and repeated more often after any employee tests positive. This topic should be covered in all hiring contracts.
• Workers should never be allowed to start new shifts until they sign-in (or clock-in) near a supervisor who can quickly check to be sure that each employee is wearing appropriate clothing and safety gear.
• Since worker fatigue causes many serious construction accidents, supervisors should avoid allowing employees to work double shifts or excessive hours.

• One or more supervisors should constantly perform walk-throughs on their construction sites. They must look for poorly stored materials, excessive trash or debris, and other potentially dangerous objects that can harm any worker or visitor.
• Responsible construction site owners or supervisors should regularly seek out the best new safety equipment available for their workers. Investing in sturdy helmets and high technology gear can help workers detect dangerous substances in the air — and save lives.
• OSHA jobsite inspectors should be asked to visit new work sites. They can detect any unsafe labor practices and make useful suggestions for improving worker safety.
• Based on the suggestions of NYCOSH, New York City must consider raising the fees charged for all violations of safety laws and regulations.
• Far more NYC building inspectors must be hired immediately. Serious jobsite dangers — especially on nonunion projects – are causing too many critical and deadly injuries.
• Provide workers with clear instructions on how to safely leave the areas where they’re working when serious fires or other catastrophes strike.
• Employees must be told that all on-the-job accidents must be reported to their supervisors as soon as possible.
• All workers must be taught how to safely build and use scaffolding.
• Few outside visitors should be allowed to walk across construction sites without obtaining prior approval.
• Every worker must be told to avoid certain restricted areas to prevent harm. Obvious signs should be posted to indicate these dangerous locations.
• All construction site equipment and tools must be properly maintained and repaired on a regular schedule. Also, most building materials must be locked up when no employees or supervisors are present.
• At least bi-monthly safety audits should be conducted on all NYC construction sites.
• Each construction site must provide its workers with clear instructions on how to respond to all COVID-19 and other major respiratory infections. In other words, workers must be clearly told when they must see doctors to obtain treatment and pick up required return-to-work paperwork.

If you have suffered serious injuries after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to contact our Bronx construction accident law firm. We will carefully investigate all the facts of your case, review all your medical records, and then fight hard to win the maximum compensation available to you. We want every client to fully recover for all lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other losses.

Frequently asked questions and answers based on the article “Preventing Construction Site Accidents in the Bronx”:

Q1: What did the NYCOSH report reveal about construction worker fatalities in New York City?
A1: The NYCOSH report concluded that construction worker fatalities in NYC increased for the third year in a row, with 24 construction employees dying in 2022 due to job injuries.

Q2: What are some common types of construction site accidents in the Bronx?
A2: Common construction site accidents include slip and fall events, electrocutions, accidents involving moving vehicles, trench or wall collapses, scaffolding injuries, explosions and fires, and harm caused by falling objects.

Q3: How can construction site owners conduct more effective job training sessions?
A3: To conduct more effective training, all workers must attend, proper PPE should be discussed, new equipment must be covered, and diverse training presentations should be offered. Employers should also set clear training objectives and keep records of attendance.

Q4: What are some common injuries reported by Bronx construction workers?
A4: Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, serious burns, cuts, and lacerations, fractured or broken bones, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and respiratory infections like COVID-19.

Q5: How can worker fatigue be prevented on construction sites?
A5: To prevent worker fatigue, supervisors should avoid allowing employees to work double shifts or excessive hours.

Q6: What role can OSHA jobsite inspectors play in improving construction site safety?
A6: OSHA jobsite inspectors can visit new work sites to detect unsafe labor practices and make suggestions for improving worker safety.

Q7: Why is it important to report all on-the-job accidents to supervisors as soon as possible?
A7: Reporting accidents promptly allows for proper investigation, documentation, and implementation of necessary safety measures to prevent future incidents.

Q8: How often should safety audits be conducted on NYC construction sites?
A8: Safety audits should be conducted at least bi-monthly on all NYC construction sites.

Q9: What should construction sites provide to workers regarding COVID-19 and other respiratory infections?
A9: Construction sites must provide workers with clear instructions on how to respond to COVID-19 and other major respiratory infections, including when to seek medical treatment and obtain return-to-work paperwork.

Q10: What should you do if you’ve suffered serious injuries in a construction accident caused by someone else’s negligence?
A10: If you’ve been seriously injured in a construction accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact a Bronx construction accident law firm to investigate your case, review your medical records, and fight for the maximum compensation available for your losses.

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