NYC Construction Fatalities Rise

Due to a recent rise in construction fatalities, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration recently accelerated their annual review process in an attempt to reduce onsite worker deaths.

Following a nontraditional 2008 third quarter review, OSHA gathered industry members from Building Trade Employers’ Association and Building and Construction Trades Council to reveal startling statistics and offer recommendations.

In 2006, there were 29 fatalities in the five boroughs of New York City, which OSHA considered the worst year in its analysis of fiscal years 2002-2008. The industry experienced 22 fatalities in 2007. To date in 2008, 26 fatalities have been reported. “We are already in second place in terms of fatalities and we still have a few months to go,” explained Richard Mendelson, area director at OSHA as well as speaker at the recent meeting.

OSHA Releases Fatality Numbers