Brooklyn Building Collapse Due to Lack of Supervision?
Earlier this month, one construction worker was killed and another injured when the building they were working on partially collapsed. According to the NY Daily News, the top floor of the apartment building at 227 Carlton Ave. in Fort Greene fell in on the workers. A superintendent was overseeing 14 jobs at the time, despite a cap of 10 on the number of jobs one can oversee.
The Carlton Avenue job site accident happened when the beams holding up the top floor weren’t properly supported as a load of blocks was placed on top. The Buildings Department issued 10 code violations after the accident.
A job superintendent is there to ensure a safe working environment. This is part of the reason that the city says a superintendent should oversee no more than 10 job sites without special permission. Officials are investigating whether the superintendent of the Carlton Avenue site was doing too much or was present when the accident happened.
Each job site requires a certain amount of attention, particularly when the site is large — like new construction on an apartment building. The company behind this particular project is building 24 apartment buildings in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Manhattan at this time.
Each site has its own unique traits, specifications, workers, and quirks. Each needs at least one person who can be in charge of preventing accidents through safe construction practices. A superintendent can likely split attention among a few sites, particularly when there is knowledgeable staff at each site. But it would seem that the more sites a superintendent is overseeing, the greater the risk for tragedy.
As a construction worker, you have to trust that those who designed the building you are working on and those who hired the workers kept safety in mind. You want to be assured that you are protected while working. But accidents happen, and workers like you often suffer the consequences.
About Ginarte Construction Accident Lawyers
At the Ginarte Law Firm, we represent men and women who are hurt on construction sites. Your work is dangerous and you have rights. When you are hurt because a site was unsafe, because the equipment wasn’t well-maintained, or because a co-worker made a mistake, you deserve justice.
If you’ve been injured on a construction site, contact our New York construction accident attorneys today. We can offer a free consultation and we may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries. Call 888-GINARTE now.
