Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health<\/a> enforces workplace safety regulations and laws. Public entities, private contractors, labor organizations and trade associations all promote workplace safety and accident prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, New York Labor Laws Sections 200, 240 and 241 provide specific protections such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Section 200<\/strong> \u2013 In all places, machinery and equipment are subject to placement and operation in a well-lit space to ensure the safety and well-being of the operators. The law requires \u201creasonable and adequate\u201d protection of all employees and others who will be on the property. If a situation is too dangerous \u2013 including unsanitary conditions, fire threat, toxic exposure risk, or has hazardous exits \u2013 the commissioner may post signs and prohibit further work or occupancy until correction of the dangerous condition is complete.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Section 240<\/strong> \u2013 Contractors and their agents in building construction, demolition, repair, cleaning, painting and other type of work that involves scaffolding, ladders, hangers, pulleys, braces, ropes or other devices to properly complete the work must give careful attention to properly protect the devices that will be more than 20 feet from the ground or swung from an overhead support with a rail – They must be able to bear four times more than the safe maximum weight and must be secured from swaying from the building. Lack of due care may result in liability for the worker\u2019s injury.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Section 241<\/strong> \u2013 Strict guidelines spell out floor and elevator requirements when constructing or demolishing a building or excavating land, setting forth \u201creasonable and adequate\u201d protection and safety for workers and others lawfully on the property. For demolitions, contractors will need to determine if asbestos is present. Consequently, a licensed asbestos contractor may need to perform an asbestos remediation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$8 Million Settlement for Construction Worker Injured in 25-Foot Fall
<\/strong>While working on the roof of a building undergoing demolition in New Jersey, a construction worker fell 25 feet through an unprotected hole after not being given a safety harness or fall protection. He suffered a traumatic brain injury along with other serious orthopedic injuries. Glugeth & Pierguidi aggressively litigated the case, bringing in leading experts to support the worker\u2019s claims. Just before trial, the firm secured an $8 million settlement for their client.<\/p>\n\n\n