Forklift Construction Accident Kills Worker in Brooklyn

A 44-year old construction worker was killed recently when a falling piece of metal that had been dropped from a forklift struck him. Responders were unable to save him and he died at the scene of the construction accident.

The victim had been on the roof of the six-story condominium development in Bedford-Stuyvesant. A manual forklift was hoisting a large piece of metal-framed wall. The machine fell over on its side, causing the metal to fall on the worker.

Tragically, the worker’s two sons and a brother were also employed at the site which once was the location of the Cascade Linen factory. One of the sons was part of a team that frantically tried to get the wall off of the victim.

Manual Forklift May Not Have Been Approved for the Site

Workers claim that the on-site cranes were not operational that day due to high winds. For that reason, the manual forklift may have been used to lift the heavy metal wall.

Also, the city’s Department of Buildings allegedly had approved an engine-powered forklift for the work site, not the manual type that was involved in the deadly accident. Workers on the site speculated that the manual forklift may have been inadequate to move such a heavy metal wall.

Also, at this time it is not clear whether the machine operator was licensed to operate either type of forklift.

As a result of these anomalies, within hours of the accident, the DOB had issued a violation for the contractor for failure to safeguard workers. The project is now under a full stop-work order. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that more violations may be issued.

New York City Construction Deaths on the Rise

The Construction industry is booming in NYC, but the bad news is that construction-related deaths have doubled over last year. In the first seven months of 2018, 8 people died compared to 4 in the same time period in 2017.

Injuries have surged 17% as 469 people were injured in 457 on-the-job accidents through July. Construction is the most dangerous job in the city.