A construction worker died on Wednesday, October 26th after falling off scaffolding into a 35 foot deep wastewater tank in Brooklyn.
The accident took place at Coney Island Water Pollution Control facility on Knapp St. near Voorhies Ave. in Gravesend. Emergency workers rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 12:34 p.m. about the construction worker’s fall.
Two FDNY divers found the 31 year old construction worker, Michael Buffamante, at the bottom of the tank and pulled him out of the water. Rescue workers thereafter unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate Buffamante, who was in cardiac arrest. He later died at the hospital.
The Department of Environmental Protection, who manages the plant, refused to answer any questions at the scene.
In cases where an individual sues the City of New York, or one of its agents, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days of the date of the accident.
Examples of construction site accidents that cause injuries to workers include (1) scaffolding collapse or structure collapse; (2) fall from a ladder or scaffold; (3) workers struck by falling objects and (4) electrical hazards, electrocution or electrical burns.
The owner and the general contractor must be held accountable and compensate an injured construction worker for their injuries arising from an accident, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages. Whether the construction worker is a citizen or not, does not matter where the worker is injured because he was not provided with any safety device, or when the safety device he was given broke or failed in its function to prevent the worker from falling feet to the ground.
Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/worker-rescued-fall-brooklyn-wastewater-tank-article-1.2846007
