Thursday, April 13, 2017

Worker dies in "completely preventable" accident


From the Daily News:

A city hardhat plummeted 18 feet to his death Wednesday in what city officials called a “completely preventable” construction accident in Times Square.

Jose Cruz, 59, of Sunset Park, was helping remove part of a steel deck from a slab at 1604 Broadway, near W. 49th St., at about 11:05 a.m., when he fell from an I-beam near the second floor, officials said.

He died at Mount Sinai West.

“We think it was completely preventable,” said city Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler.

“There should have been tie offs with his personal protection equipment, which he was wearing.”

In March 2016, the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) hit Streamline USA with seven violations dubbed "serious" after its inspectors responded to a complaint about unsafe job conditions at the 1604 Broadway site. The agency hit the company with $19,200 in fines which Streamline is contesting.

11 comments:

(sarc) said...

Sadly, it is no one's fault but his own...

Anonymous said...

Well the company he worked for probably doesn't care because he was probably an illegal working for low pay. All the company is going to do is possibly give his family a couple of thousand dollars and tell them to forget about it. This is the reason why these companies hire illegals to begin with so they don't have to pay out for insurance and lawsuits.

Anonymous said...

Scab labor...

Anonymous said...

THE FALL WAS WASN'T THAT BAD
I THINK THAT SUDDEN STOP AT THE BOTTOM GOT HIM

JQ LLC said...

I have been hearing a lot of spanish dialogue at various building developments and renovations lately. And seeing a lot of chinese at worksites too (EB-5 anyone?)

It could be that these predator developers and building owners were in a rush to hire scab non-union labor before Mario's sons slight concessions to unions and big concessions to REBNY took effect after the budget signing.

Anonymous said...

City officials say this was preventable?

I would think trains bumping into each other and derailing would be preventable but the City couldn't manage that!

Are they now the final word?

Was he an illegal?

Was he a scab?

I would agree with (sarc). If he used proper safety equipment this wouldn't have happened.

Anonymous said...

Sarc is once again correct. Anon #1 is ignorant.

Anonymous said...

“Construction is a dangerous industry and the unionized sites are not immune to fatalities. Just a few weeks ago we lost one of our own ... (but) the vast majority of construction fatalities are avoidable tragedies similar to today's incident — an improperly trained, exploited worker on a nonunion job site,” LaBarbera said, as he urged the City Council to pass legislation mandating stricter safety training.

Was he an illegal? Was this job non-union? Was he 'improperly trained'? He was wearing safety gear.

If he was an illegal: If President Trump had deported him he would be alive today!!!!!

Blame this on DeBlazio and the sanctuary city!

Anonymous said...

A little sad that the quotes saying what a great guy he was are from a guy who lives in the building and the deli guy.

Unknown said...

More than likely non union worker , with low experience , probably a scab company with shoddy safety implements.. sad

Anonymous said...

Sad to say that is the second death at that location. This was the sight where a young lady was murdered by a club employee. Also this is what happens when you have non-union labor. The company owners skim on safety to fatten their pockets!