Now is the Time to Prevent Construction Accidents Related to Hurricane Irene, Says New York Construction Accident Lawyer
At construction sites across Manhattan, crews are inspecting construction sites for high wind and flood damage following Hurricane Irene's arrival.

NEW YORK, NY, September 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In response to Hurricane Irene, a shutdown was ordered on all work at construction sites in the city from 2 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday.

Ahead of Hurricane Irene's arrival, buildings inspectors checked construction sites throughout New York City to make sure equipment was secure and any loose materials were removed or tied down. This inspection included cranes, scaffolding, hoists and anything else that could come loose in heavy wind and rain.

New York construction accident lawyers understand the inspectors continued their work throughout the weekend to make sure builders, developers and contractors complied.

"Construction sites need to prepare for hurricanes and high winds in order to prevent construction site related injury to construction workers and-or passerby," said New York construction accident lawyer David Perecman, a New York construction accident lawyer for over 30 years.

New York construction accident lawyers generally agree that construction sites need to have a clear plan in place for dealing with unusual situations such as a hurricane.

"Safety plans should identify the types of weather events that may occur at the construction jobsite. This should include severe weather like tropical storms or hurricanes, even if they are rare weather conditions in New York," construction accident lawyer Perecman said. "As we saw with Hurricane Irene, New York needs to be prepared for all types of weather. And simply saying that you may face severe weather isn't enough. Owners and site managers need to drill down to the specific hazards."

As reported online by the Wall Street Journal, at the World Trade Center construction site, crews readied the tower cranes and other construction equipment for the high winds.

The cranes were either secured with cables or left to swing free depending on their location. "Letting cranes swing 'like a boat on a mooring' sometimes makes damage less likely because it reduces torque that would result from cranes being tied down," said Chris Ward, executive director of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Debris and smaller objects that could be blown off the 1 World Trade Center building were secured. Workers raced to cover electrical equipment, store tools and tie netting down. Construction crews prepared to install pumps and sandbags in areas that could be subject to flooding, according to a statement by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Following winds of hurricane magnitude, New York construction accident lawyers at The Perecman Firm, one of New York's construction accident law firms, recommend that construction sites and equipment are thoroughly checked for damage which might impact the safety of employees returning to the jobsite.

"Construction companies need to have sites checked by safety inspectors for potentially dangerous conditions. In addition to endangering the safety of construction workers on the sites, hazardous conditions can also injure passersby in New York," construction accident lawyer Perecman, founder of The Perecman Firm, said.

According to Crain's New York, the Building Owners and Managers Association recommended in its hurricane preparation checklist that "landlords fasten or remove all loose material; secure roof-mounted equipment such as flashings, roof vents and cooling units; secure on-site cranes against high winds; and clean out all drains and catch basins." The association also suggested that landlords set up Twitter accounts and Facebook pages for emergency information."

To prevent construction accidents, OSHA requires inspection of equipment during and after periods of extreme weather conditions. If equipment poses a safety hazard, it must be taken out of operation and repaired before any work continues.

Regarding inclement weather protocol, the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center says, "Each project site must be evaluated to determine the need for safety related equipment...prior to impending severe weather conditions. After adverse weather conditions have ceased, the project site must be inspected and findings documented before work resumes."

"Following Irene and any other severe weather conditions, machinery and equipment must be inspected prior to use and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condition," explained Perecman, the former head New York construction accident lawyer for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and a lecturer on construction accident law.

Construction has been one of the most hazardous industries to work in as measured by number of deaths. Construction workers are always at risk of suffering serious injuries or other construction related accidents.

"A construction company can not ignore safety concerns after any extreme weather conditions in New York," construction accident lawyer Perecman said. "If the causes of a construction accident are avoidable, meaning that someone's negligence was the cause of the construction accident, a victim of the construction accident, or his or her family, can obtain financial compensation for the construction accident injuries or construction site death."

By taking a comprehensive, step-by-step approach, owners and site managers can minimize the chances that a severe weather event will turn into a disaster for a construction worksite.

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Penni Horwitz
The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C.
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