December Death Brought NYC Construction Fatalities to Nine for 2017

The death of 34-year-old Przemyslaw Krawczyk on December 18 brought the unofficial total of New York City construction workers accidentally killed on the job to nine for 2017. According to the Department of Buildings, 12 workers died each year in 2016 and 2015, compared with eight in 2014. The total for last year represents a decline, so it is a victory of sorts for an industry that has come under fire for lax safety standards that put workers at unreasonable risk. However, the safety record of the jobsite where Krawczyk died is sadly symptomatic of a construction industry stubbornly resisting safety standards that could prevent unnecessary deaths.

According to Real Estate Weekly, citing public records, “The building at 61 Ninth Avenue, owned by Aurora Capital Associates and Vornado Realty Trust, has received multiple violations from the DOB,” including an Environmental Control Board citation on September 16 [alleging] “the site had failed to implement safety equipment measures, and that at the time of inspection, there were no safety measures in place at the 10-story building.”

According to details summarized at the website Metroforensics, a metal anchoring bracket fell off construction scaffolding and plummeted 10 stories, fatally striking Mr. Krawczyk on the head as he was standing on a sidewalk shed at the 61 Ninth Avenue construction site. Mr. Krawczyk had been wearing a hard hat. Police officers arrived to find him sprawled on the ground, unresponsive, and although he was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital, he died an hour later.

When a worker dies at a construction site where city inspectors have found multiple violations, and have even partially shut down the site on two occasions, we should all be outraged. Przemyslaw Krawczyk’s death resulted from a highly preventable accident. His case and so many others cry out for justice.

At [ln::firm_name], our New York City construction accident lawyers protect the rights of injured workers. If you’ve been hurt in a worksite accident, call us at [ln::phone] or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.