A tragic construction accident in Brooklyn took the life of a 46-year-old worker last week. According to a report by the New York Post, the worker “was standing” at the worksite, at 1 Java Street in Greenpoint, when a 2,000-pound excavator arm fell on top of him. Police told reporters that the worker was found dead at the scene of the incident. As the Post notes, he was the fifth person to die in a construction-related incident in 2022.
The accident resulted in a Department of Buildings order to completely stop work at the construction site, such that city inspectors could investigate it in conjunction with federal inspectors from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. In a statement, a DOB spokesperson said: “Our preliminary investigation has determined that workers on the site were in the beginning stages of a 14-story new building project, and were using an excavator to transport pipes from one side of the work site to the other… While one of the workers was using straps to secure pipe posts to the excavator arm, the machinery failed, and a large section of the arm (specifically a lifting attachment) fell on top of the worker.”
In addition to investigating the Greenpoint construction site, the DOB will also perform a review of “of the other city construction sites overseen by real estate and investment group Lendlease, the contractor at the Java Street site,” according to a report by NY1. A spokesperson for the company told NY1 that Lendlease was “saddened to confirm a fatal construction accident occurred this morning at the 1 Java St. jobsite in Brooklyn.” The spokesperson added, “We extend our deepest condolences to the individual’s loved ones… At this time, we are in the process of investigating the incident in full coordination with appropriate authorities.”
More information about the fatal construction accident at 1 Java Street in Brooklyn is available via the New York Post and NY1.
Contact our attorneys to discuss your construction accident case.
