Following several NYC construction worker deaths the DOB is performing safety sweeps on large construction sites

3 NYC construction workers died  and another one was critically injured in 3 separate construction accidents in New York City.

On May 19th a hard hat was killed and his colleague critically injured after an elevator in a charter school under construction fell from the top floor to the ground in the Bronx . The two workers were in the elevator transporting debris.

On May 22nd, a construction worker fell to his death at a construction site in Long Island City, Queens. 32 year old Diego Lliguicota fell down an elevator shaft from the sixth floor to the second one.

A few days later, on May 27, another construction worker fell to his death while working on the demolition of the Flatbush Saving Bank building.  The 49  year worker was breaking one of the sections of the roof when the piece of concrete he was standing on broke and he fell 50 feet to the ground. The worker was not strapped in.

All accidents are being investigated.

Zero tolerance sweeps will shut down construction sites with serious violations

Following the 3 New York City fatal construction accidents, the Department of Buildings announced a few days ago in a press release that it mobilized teams of inspectors to effectuate zero tolerance sweeps at major construction sites in the city to make sure that they are safe for construction workers and for the public. Construction sites where inspectors find serious violations will be shut down and face up to $25,000 for each construction safety violation.

Inspectors will also distribute information about fall prevention to construction workers. Despite recent legislation requiring all workers to undergo training and national awareness campaigns such as the Fall Safety Stand Down that take place every year at the beginning of May, falls remain the number one cause of deaths for construction workers in New York City.

Read the press release from the NYC DOB