While most people suffer an injury on the job at one time or another, construction accidents are seldom minor incidents. An accident at a construction site may mean work injuries that can be permanently disabling or even fatal. Recently, a New York man was injured in an mishap that could have been disastrous.
The worker was standing near a crawler crane when the accident occurred. A beam attached to the crane was being used to drive steel sheeting into the ground when the cable holding the beam snapped. The seven-ton I-beam dropped onto the worker, pinning his legs to the ground. Witnesses say the man was fortunate the beam became caught in the sheeting and only part of it landed on the man’s legs; otherwise, the results would have been devastating.
Nevertheless, rescuers had to stabilize the beam to keep it from falling. By digging under the worker, they were then able to slide him from danger without having to lift the enormous beam. Both of the worker’s legs were broken, but he remained conscious throughout the ordeal.
Work injuries can disrupt a person’s life in many ways. This worker will likely lose a significant amount of time from work as he recovers from his injuries. Fortunately, New York employees have access to workers’ compensation insurance to assist them with medical costs and other expenses while they recover. However, claiming these benefits is not always easy without the help of an experienced attorney to help navigate through the complicated insurance system.
Source: New York Daily News, “Heavy beam falls, seriously injures construction worker in Queens“, Ellen Moynihan, April 5, 2017