08/15/2013 // New York, NY, USA // jcreiterlaw // Jonathan C. Reiter // (press release)
One of the most common types of accidents that occur at construction sites are slip and fall accidents. Often, construction sites have dripping water or liquids like oil and other lubricants that create dangerous and slippery conditions. In addition, multiple subcontractors at construction sites can lead to workers from one trade being unaware of slippery conditions caused by workers from another trade, reports Jonathan C. Reiter, a New York construction accident attorney.
Falls of this type can be especially traumatic due to the hard and uneven surfaces that exist at construction sites. Workers as well carry heavy equipment, tools and other supplies, which renders them incapable of using their hands to possibly break a fall.
The strict liability provisions of Labor Law section 240(1) will apply to these types of falls if a worker slips and falls from a height. Just as prevalent is Labor Law section 241(6), which covers slip and fall accidents that do not involve a fall from a height. These types of accidents can cause serious, and at times, fatal injuries. This section of the Labor Law requires owners and general contractors to comply with the New York Industrial Code, Article 23, which is essentially an extensive list of safety rules mandated at construction sites in New York.
Jonathan C. Reiter, a personal injury attorney whose offices are located in the Empire State Building, and who has handled many construction site slip and fall accident cases, explained the New York Industrial Code as follows: “Regulations in the New York Industrial Code, Art. 23 have been codified in Labor Law section 241(6), which imposes liability on the owner and general contractor of a construction site which has violated one or more of the regulations. As to slip and fall accidents, there is a regulation that requires an employer to protect his employees from using a working floor, ramp, passageway, scaffold, platform or other work surface, which is in a slippery condition.
Any ice, snow, water, grease or any substance which may cause slippery footing must be removed or covered to provide safe footing”. Labor Law section 241(6) requires owners and general contractors to uphold the specific safety rules as stated in the Industrial Code Art. 23. Their failure to do so imposes liability for the injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents.
As Mr. Reiter stated: “The injuries suffered as a result of a slip and fall accident can be serious, and include fractures, severe head injuries, and neck, back and extremity injuries. The owners’ and general contractors’ failure to comply with safety regulations places their workers at a very high risk of serious injuries, and therefore, the Labor Law rightly imposes liability when the violation of this law is proven.”
Source: The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter
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Address: 350 5th Avenue · Suite 2811 New York, NY 10118
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