Construction Explosion in Manhattan Sends Dangerous Debris Flying for the Second Time This Month
A routine subterranean blast last week in Manhattan turned into a dangerous shower of debris after an unintentional explosion. According to news reports, officials blamed a contractor error for the explosion that put hundreds of residents, workers, and tourists in danger.
The explosion took place at an underground subway construction site on Second Avenue. Although a blast was intended, what actually happened certainly was not. Dynamite was set in anticipation of carving out a room for an escalator through a difficult section of schist. The explosion that followed sent chunks of bedrock and concrete eight stories into the air before they fell. The explosion broke nearby windows,and forced pedestrians to dive for cover. No one was reported injured in the explosion.
The contractor was blamed for a similar blast at the same location less than a month ago, which also caused debris to go flying through a barrier and onto the street. Although an investigation is underway, it appears as though the cause of the explosion may have been related to the holes that were used for the depth charges. The holes were apparently drilled at a 30-degree angle, which left only two steel plates to bear the force of a blast they were not designed to handle. In addition, it appears as though the 1,500-pound, 6-by-10-foot steel plates were not properly anchored at the edges which contributed to the inability of the structure to contain the blast.
“What happened was completely unacceptable and should have not occurred,” said Michael Horodniceanu, president of capital construction for the Metropolitan Transit Authorityin New York. The MTA has announced that it will hire an independent safety consultant immediately to revise the operations procedures used for blasting in the city.
“I truly would like to apologize to the residents of the area who have been exposed to numerous problems throughout the construction of this project,” Horodniceanu said. “I pledge to them that we will do our best for something like this to not occur again.”
New York Construction Accidents
Unfortunately, last week’s construction accident was not an isolated incident. Construction accidents happen more often than many realize and certainly more often than they should in New York. According to figures released by the New York Citymayor, there were 128 construction accidents last year in New York City, resulting in 152 injuries. Five people lost their lives in construction accidentslast year, compared with four fatalities in 2010. The New York City Buildings Department, which enforces safety regulations, issued 5,100 stop work orders last year as a result of safety violations.
Construction accidents can injure both workers and bystanders, as the mayor’s statistics illustrate. When an injury does result, the responsible party should be held accountable. Depending on the type of injury, there are a number of potential defendants, including:
- General contractor
- Subcontractors
- Third party maintenance company
- Rental or lease company
- Equipment manufacturer
- Inspector
Contact New York/New Jersey Construction Accident Attorneys
If you have been injured in a New York construction accident, you may be legally entitled to seek compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.Contact the New York/New Jersey construction accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd to find out what legal options you may have.
With six offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you. Contact the firm today for your free consultation by calling 888-446-2783 or filling out our online contact form.
