new york crane accident lawyer

Published on: August 19, 2024

New Crane Licensing Requirements: What New York City Contractors Need to Know

As NYC crane accident lawyers who have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of construction site accidents, we understand the critical importance of proper training and licensing for equipment operators. Recently, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has announced significant changes to crane licensing requirements that will take effect on November 7, 2024. These changes aim to enhance safety standards and reduce the risk of accidents involving articulating boom cranes, mini cranes, and rotating telehandlers. Here’s what contractors and equipment operators need to know about these new regulations.

New Licensing Requirements

Starting November 7, 2024, the operation of articulating boom cranes, mini cranes, and rotating telehandlers in New York City will require a specific Hoisting Machine Operator (HMO) license issued by the DOB. This new mandate reflects a growing recognition of the unique operational risks associated with these types of equipment. The new licensing requirements will cover the use of these cranes for tasks such as delivering and moving materials on construction sites.

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Published on: September 27, 2023

Contractor cited in Hell’s Kitchen Crane accident

By GGCRBHS&M

A recent CBS New York investigation indicates that Monadock Construction was cited by NYC in the crane accident that occurred in Hells Kitchen last July and left 12 people injured.

Back in July a massive crane caught fire and collapsed onto a nearby building, causing widespread panic and property damage. Now, in a significant development, the city authorities have cited Monadnock Construction, the construction contractor responsible for the project, for failing to safeguard the construction site. This citation carries a potential penalty of $25,000, raising important questions about accountability and safety in construction operations.

The New York City Buildings Department took action by serving a violation notice to Monadnock Construction in late August. The notice clearly states that the company failed to safeguard “all persons and property affected by construction operations.” This is a fundamental requirement for any construction project, emphasizing the importance of safety measures in preventing accidents like the crane fire in Hell’s Kitchen.

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Published on: August 17, 2016

Crane accident at 3 World Trade Center NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

Thankfully nobody was injured in a New York crane accident last Thursday. Construction workers at the WTC site were pulling the unloaded line and hook of a crane standing on the top of a building under construction when the accident happened. The workers had been instructed to do so as a safety measure before a coming storm. A gust of wind sent a weighted ball attached to the crane’s line into a glass panel of the 3 World Trade Center building. Nobody was injured as the accident happened in the restricted perimeter of the WTC construction site. John Gallager, the spokesman for Tishman Construction said in a statement to the press that the glass window would be replaced and that the accident was being investigated.Read more in CBS New York

Wind and storms have been the cause of many crane accidents in New York City. Last February, David Wichs, who’s family is represented by our NYC crane accident attorney Howard Hershenhorn, lost his life after the wind caused a giant crane to collapse on him. After the accident the city immediately increased mandatory safety measures for crane operators and created a special team to work on additional measures to prevent such accidents.

Picture: rendering of 3 World Trade Center courtesy of Wikipedia

Published on: July 13, 2016

How to better prevent crane accidents in New York?

By GGCRBHS&M

Following the fatal collapse of a crane in lower Manhattan last February, Mayor de Blasio and NYC building commissioner Rick Chandler created the Crane Safety Technical Working Group. The mission of this independent group of experts was to assess actual New York crane safety regulations and provide a set of recommendations to improve existing regulations and limit further crane accidents in New York City. A few days ago the group released a report that includes 23 recommendations to improve crane safety in New York City.

The group noted that despite having some of the most comprehensive crane safety regulations in the world, the NYC Department of Buildings hasn’t comprehensively revised and updated these regulations since 2008. In between technology and best practices have evolved tremendously. A new effort to update regulations was launched by the DOB last year but nothing has been released yet. Therefore the Crane Safety Technical Working Group proposes that the Department of Buildings integrates the Crane Safety Technical Working Group recommendations with their ongoing efforts to update the existing crane regulations.

In its recommendations, the group suggests:

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Published on: May 17, 2016

Notice of Claim filed against City of New York for $600M in Crane accident that killed David Wichs

By GGCRBHS&M

The widow of David Wichs who was killed by a crane that collapsed on a New York Street (see previous post) is intending to sue the City for $600M. Rebecca Wichs who is represented by our partner, New York crane accident attorney Howard Hershenhorn, filed a notice of claim last week with the New York City Comptroller. Her husband David Wichs was walking on Worth Street, in downtown Manhattan, when a crane fell in the street and killed him. Rebecca Wichs is seeking $550 for wrongful death, $25 million for conscious pain and suffering and $25 million for loss of services.

Rebecca Wichs claims that The City was negligent in the manner in which they supervised the construction site. It is also claimed The City failed to proprely consider the weather conditions in their decision making process. Knowing about the heavy snow and winds that were forecast for that day, The City should have ordered the lowering and securing of the crane the day before the collapse.

Read more in the New York Law Journal and on CBS News