A tragedy unfolded last month in midtown Manhattan when a construction worker was injured and a security guard at the site was killed by a falling glass panel. The accident occurred on Saturday, May 26, during the morning hours.
According to reports, the site of the skyscraper under construction is the Central Park Tower located on 57th Street, two blocks to the south of Central Park between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The planned height of the building is 1,550 feet. Upon its completion, it will be the building with the highest roof height in the United States.
At the time of the fatal accident, workers were moving a 10 x 20 feet glass panel, a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and a deputy chief with the Fire Department New York (FDNY) reported.
The fatally injured security guard, 67, was not conscious when first responders arrived at the scene. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s hospital. The injured worker, 27, was not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Firefighters acknowledged that the city’s Department of Buildings was notified of the fatal accident.
There is no doubt that the many construction projects in and around all five boroughs of the city pose inherent safety risks, not just for workers but also for passersby on the street. Companies and contractors on these sites have an obligation to take all required precautions to ensure the safety of workers and all those in close proximity to the construction sites.
Were you injured at a NYC construction site? You may have the right to pursue compensation for the injuries you suffered, in addition to other possible damages.
Source: ABC New York, “Glass Panel Kills Man in Midtown Skyscraper Construction Accident: NYPD,” May 27, 2018
