When employers force employees to work in unsafe and dangerous conditions, they are putting innocent lives at risk. All employers have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment for their employees. However, one small mistake or many errors made over time can lead to the unexpected death of a worker and other fatal workplace accidents.
An 18-year-old construction worker lost his life and two others were seriously injured at a Brooklyn construction site in 2015 when the walls of an excavation site caved in. The work was allegedly being done in violation of permit restrictions and warnings that the worksite was unsafe. The employer was in direct violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for stabilizing excavation sites. Furthermore, the workers lacked OSHA safety certifications and had little to no training. Even then workers protested that they needed stabilization in the cave before working.
The company also failed to hold workers’ compensation insurance and did not report the accident for surviving workers to receive benefits. The contractor was charged with criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, and other criminal felonies as a result of the negligence.
When people are injured in workplace accidents or lost a loved one because of another person’s negligence, they deserve compensation for their emotional and physical pain and trauma. An attorney in New York may be helpful in answering questions and pointing you in the right direction when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve.
Source: Bloomberg BNA, “NYC Contractor Faces Homicide Charges in Cave-In Death,” John Herzfeld, May 11, 2017.
