Did you know that under New York State Labor Law, a construction worker who is injured because of a tripping or slipping hazard has the right to sue and recover financial compensation against the owner and the general contractor of a building project? A New York construction accident lawyer can represent you in bringing a tripping and slipping hazard case against the responsible parties.
Construction workers are often subjected to unsafe working conditions in the form of excessive debris, which causes tripping and slipping hazards on the job. New York construction workers know all too well that construction sites can be hectic and chaotic. Materials and equipment are constantly being delivered to and removed from job sites. During the course of a building project, many other types of tradespeople are be called upon to perform the vital tasks associated with a construction or renovation project. Carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, plumbers, and sheetrock workers, and many more are responsible for framing, scaffolding, wiring decking, and creating concrete forms. With all these different workers and materials in operation, maintaining an orderly workplace requires care and attention. Under New York Law, it is the responsibility of the owner and the general contractor to make sure that all employers keep the construction site clear of construction debris and other potential tripping and slipping hazards.
The construction debris that is the natural consequence of these tasks requires constant cleanup and removal for the job to progress in a safe environment. However, as many construction workers know all too well, clean-up can often be neglected on a construction site. New York City construction workers should not be forced to endure the dangerous risks of tripping hazards or slippery conditions. Construction work is dangerous enough without the added difficulty of trying to avoid tripping and falling on debris.
Cleanliness may not seem like a serious legal issue, but when it comes to New York construction sites, the law is clear. The New York Industrial Code 12 NYCRR § 23-1.7(e)(1) legally requires all construction property owners and general contractors to keep all ‘passageways’ free from accumulations of debris and other tripping hazards. In addition, New York Industrial Code 12 NYCRR § 23-1.7(e)(2) legally requires all construction property owners and general contractors to keep all all “floors and similar work areas” free from accumulations of debris and other tripping hazards.
The owner and the general contractor are legally required to provide these protections to New York construction workers regardless of their role in the creation of the hazard. This means that an owner and the general contractor cannot use the excuse that the hazard was caused by someone else. The law holds them responsible to make sure that employers provide construction workers with adequate safety. Otherwise, the owner and general contractor can be held legally responsible for any injuries incurred on a construction site.
If you or someone you know has been injured due to a tripping and slipping hazard on the job at a New York construction site, we urge you to hire an experienced lawyer to hold the owner and the general contractor accountable. The trial attorneys at Keogh Crispi have over five decades of experience helping New York construction workers recover the financial compensation they are entitled to for their injury cases. Conditions such as ‘tripping and slipping hazard’ or ‘construction debris’ might not sound dangerous, but on a construction site they are. That is why there are laws in place to keep construction workers safe. Don’t give up your rights, make sure that you know a New York construction lawyer ready to keep you safe. Contact our lawyers at Keogh Crispi to request a free consultation today.