In a recent incident on a construction site in New York, a knuckle boom truck fell into the construction site, causing five workers to sustain injuries.
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Construction Knuckle Boom Truck Incident in New York
Based on the inspectors' findings, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, during the construction of a 17-story structure, a knuckle boom truck was lifting a cargo of plywood on the second-floor deck when its boom broke and dropped. A portion of the boom penetrated the green fence and made its way onto the sidewalk on 207th Street.
Five people had injuries, three of whom had critical injuries and two of whom had minor injuries. Accordingly, an ambulance transported the hurt individuals to a nearby hospital. Luckily, none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening at this time.
DOB records indicate that two open violations have been documented at the construction site since December when an aluminum beam injured a construction worker on the shoulder. However, at this time, the DOB is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the boom.
On the other hand, the collapse occurred as New York City began to experience the effects of a severe storm that was bringing heavy winds and rainfall to the region. Thus, as a violent storm struck the city, carrying heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the Department of Buildings alerted builders and crane operators to take preventive steps.
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Rate of Construction Injuries in the US
The nature of the construction industry implies that workers will constantly be exposed to some level of risk, even though there has been a greater emphasis on safety and the protection of workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified the four most common types of dangers workers face.
Concerns are frequently raised regarding how accidents occur in relation to several of these concerns. There is a possibility that workers could sustain traumatic brain injuries, yet these risks vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
As mentioned, slips, trips, and falls from heights are the two types of falls classified on a construction site. Instances of falls from elevated positions are predominantly attributed to inadequate utilization of fall protection equipment, improper equipment mounting and dismounting, irregular surfaces, and improper ladder operation. Accordingly, accidental contamination, leaks, or misplaced goods are the most common causes of slips and trips.
As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2015 to 2019, these accidents constituted the primary cause of fatalities in the construction sector, accounting for 37.9% of the total number of deaths,
Moreover, a collision with an object ranked as the third most prevalent cause of work-related absences due to illness and injury before 2020, comprising 16.7% of reported incidents in 2020. Accidents of this nature also include workers being struck by moving things, colliding with an object or being propelled into an object, workers receiving injuries from being caught between objects, and other similar incidents.
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