20
NYC Construction Workers Died on
the Job in 2021, New Report Finds
On
February 22nd The
City reported that
"twenty construction workers
died on the job in New York City
in 2021, a new report finds,
with the pace of fatalities
rising back to pre-pandemic
levels after a year of industry
shutdowns...In 2021, the rate in
NYC was 11.2 per 100,000. That’s
a 60% increase from 7 deaths per
100,000 in 2020 — the year that
COVID began and construction
slowed — when 13 workers
died"...The group’s executive
director, Charlene Obernauer,
said the 60% death rate rise was
“startling” and
“significant.”...The report also
points to staffing deficiencies
for local and federal
regulators, with the federal
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) conducting
2,568 inspections in New York
State in 2021 — down 42% from
2019...Obernauer said routine
inspections help ensure
employers know that regulators
are watching...“Whenever we see
cuts to departments that are
responsible for safety, we
become worried that there will
be fewer inspections, fewer
enforcements, and as a result,
there will be more injuries and
more fatalities,” she said. “We
want to make sure that the
department is fully staffed so
that it can do its job.”.
Andrew
R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE,
as an OSHA certified Forensic
Engineering consultant, and as
a Past Chair of
the National
Society of Professional
Engineers PE's in Construction Interest
Group, has helped to facilitate
discussions between Professional
Engineers across the country on
important matters such as safety
in both industry and construction.
As a licensed
Professional Engineer, State
Certified Code Enforcement
Official, and OSHA
certified professional,
Mr. Yarmus is credentialed to
consult on site safety and
incident investigation matters. Yarmus
Engineering, P.C. is
available to consult with business
owners, operations managers,
property managers, real estate
developers, builders, attorneys,
contractors, insurance
professionals, adjusters, and
other related parties regarding
site safety issues. Please contact
our office if we can be
of assistance to you or your
clients regarding such matters.
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