March 24, 2015

Elevator Installers and Repairers are Among Construction Occupations with Highest Injury Rate

By Jonathan Damashek

Posted in

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Many New York commercial and residential buildings have elevators that require installation and maintenance. The elevator repair and installation business is a booming sector of the construction trades in the city. Unfortunately, the workers who install and repair elevators are at high risk of being seriously injured or sustaining fatal injuries on the job. The dangers include the close proximity to electrical systems and improperly installed systems such as the elevator controller. If you have been injured while working on an elevator, contact our personal injury attorneys at 212-490-5700 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Recent Fatal Work Accident in the Elevator Repair Industry in New York

On January 9, 2015, an elevator mechanic was crushed to death while attempting to repair a system in an elevator shaft in one of New York City’s many residential towers in the Upper West Side.

The man was crushed when an empty elevator moved down three floors, pinning and crushing his body, causing fatal injuries. At the time of the report, accident investigators were uncertain whether the elevator actually fell or descended under control. Another worker escaped injury. Another recent tragic death involved two brothers who were on a routine elevator maintenance call when one was hit and killed by a moving elevator at the New York Avenue Apartments in Atlantic City.

Fatal Workplace Accidents Related to Work on or Near Elevators

The recent accidents were consistent with the types of activities most likely to lead to death. During a 10-year period, fatal accidents involving elevators reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics were as follows:

93 deaths installing or repairing elevator

28 deaths working in elevator shaft or car

52 deaths working next to elevator

Falls, Burns, and Other Injuries

Elevator installers and repairers are put at risk of falls from ladders, burns, and severe muscle strains associated with working in restricted spaces. A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor reveals the most dangerous construction occupations and the five highest death rates.

Elevator installers and repairers are listed as the sixth most dangerous profession in the construction field, and elevator installers and repairers suffered the highest numbers of deaths in work on or near elevators, far above laborers, supervisors, ironworkers, and other professions.

Elevator installers and repairs work in a hazardous industry. Construction workers one of the highest rates of injury in the private sector. Construction had the highest count of fatal injuries in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you have been injured in an elevator accident or have a family member who was seriously or fatally injured while working as an elevator installer or repair technician, talk to a knowledgeable construction accident lawyer about your rights to seek compensation.

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Our Elevator Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you were injured while riding or working on an elevator, contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation. Our attorneys have decades of experience in work injury cases, as well as premises liability cases. Call today. 212-490-5700.