Hard Hats & Justice Episode 4

In today's episode of Hard Hats and Justice, Chris Gorayeb breaks down the most hazardous roles on New York construction sites as identified by OSHA, including demolition work, elevation and roof work, communication tower climbing, confined space operations, and the use of defective power tools. He explains that falls alone account for nearly 40 percent of all construction related deaths in the United States each year, and that New York State Labor Law Section 240 subsection 1 holds building owners and general contractors strictly responsible when a worker falls because no harness was provided, a scaffold was unsecured, or guardrails were missing. He also stresses that every tool on a job site must be safe and in good working order, meaning an unguarded grinder, an unguarded table saw, or a defective nail gun each constitute violations that trigger owner and contractor liability.

To illustrate the stakes, this installment of Hard Hats and Justice shares two matters from the firm. The first involved a man who fell 40 feet from a car dealership and died, a case Gorayeb and Associates had just settled. The second involves a current client who was forced to use a gas powered power washer inside a closed stairwell, inhaled the building concentration of fumes, lost consciousness, and rolled approximately 14 stairs, sustaining severe injuries. Chris frames the New York Labor Law as a shield: it exists to prevent accidents by making owners and contractors financially accountable, and when prevention fails, to restore financial security to injured workers and their families. He urges anyone injured in construction to consult an attorney who specializes in labor law, because most lawyers do not understand these statutes, and the difference between workers' compensation alone and a full third party case can be life changing.

New York Construction Accident Lawyers

If your accident happened on a construction site, a demolition job, a scaffold, a roof, or because an owner, general contractor, or other party failed to keep the site safe, do not wait for paperwork, missing evidence, or an early insurance offer to shape your case.