Manhattan, NY — A worker was injured when a building collapsed in Manhattan, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. The accident took place at a construction site located at 642 West 57th Street, around 2:45 in the afternoon.
The building that collapsed is being torn down to make room for a luxury apartment complex. The building is three stories tall, and the collapse started on the top floor, working its way down. Officials say that the injured worker was on top of the building the collapse began, and “rode” it all the way down to the ground.
The man, who’s name has not been released, suffered minor injuries and was taken to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital.
New York’s Department of Buildings is currently investigating the accident. It is not clear if OSHA has been notified of what happened.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
How this accident is handled going forward really depends on how it happened. Usually, a work accident is going to be handled through workers’ comp. A workers’ comp policy will pay out benefits to any eligible employee, while at the same time shielding the employer from any claims the employee may try to file against them (except for very special circumstances). If a third party is found to have played a role in the accident — which are very commonly involved in construction accidents — then the injured worker would be able to file a claim against them. The protection the workers’ comp policy affords the employer doesn’t extend to third parties. The ensuing investigation into the matter should answer some of the questions that are still lingering over this accident.
— Grossman Law Offices
