Constructing a Safe Work Environment
NEW YORK – Whenever you see a crane towering over your neighborhood, the thought might cross your mind: what if it falls? Some construction professionals now consider that possibility every day after heavy crane collapsed in Tribeca earlier this month.
City inspectors are investigating the accident, hoping to discover the cause of the crane collapse that killed one person and injured three others. Initial reports suggest a 40-mph wind gust caused the crane to tip, according to the New York Daily News.
At the time of the incident, there were over 400 cranes in operation across the city. A New York construction accident attorney at Cellino & Barnes says it’s important for every company using cranes to reassess safety.
“At the end of the day, everyone wants to go home to their families without an incident in New York,” construction accident attorney Ross Cellino said. “Safety should always be a company’s top priority but unfortunately it often takes a back seat to profits and deadlines.”
Just hours after the crane accident in Tribeca, Mayor de Blasio introduced new safety protocols and penalties:
- Penalties quadrupled for serious construction safety violations
- New supervision requirements were added
- An estimated 100 additional building inspectors will be hired
- The city will conduct enforcement sweeps over the next 3 months
Hundreds of workers and pedestrians have been injured over the past year as the city experiences a building boom. New York construction accident attorneys say other cities watching, too. Places like Buffalo and Rochester have all reported more construction permits.
“When there’s an accident, many workers rely on us to get them the best result possible,” Cellino said. “This can be costly for construction companies but the bottom line is that almost every accident can be avoided.”
