Thursday, October 2, 2008

Got 'er Done, But Safely

Git 'er Done, But Do It Safely!

Get the job done in a big hurry before freezing weather. This is the theme of the article below from Market Watch. This article points out that there are more incidents that happen during the fall when contractors tend to push workers and possibly take shortcuts to safe work practices to complete outside work before winter ice and snow begins.

This post is directed to the New York area, but holds true to all sections of the country as there are many icy days all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico. Freezing temperatures are experienced in almost every state in the country, especially in the early morning hours.

Contractors and owners of project sites get in too much a rush to get the job done and add many extra personnel that have to work above or below other work going on or go into an overtime mode to work as much as 12 or more hours per day, seven days per week. This situation creates fatigue of the workers who in turn take shortcuts to safe work practices.


Another situation that takes place during this time of year is industrial plants using holiday times to do Shut Down work in a few short days around Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year times. Shut downs (some refer to it as "Turn Overs") are usually perilous situations due to the long hours workers have to do to get the job done in a hurry.

I urge ALL contractors to place Very Close attention to Safe Work Practices during these rush, rush projects, especially this time of year.

Workers Are More at Risk for Accident Injuries on Construction Sites During the Fall and Winter

David Perecman, New York Construction Accident Attorney, Warns That Safety May Be Lax on a Construction Site as Contractors and Developers Rush Workers to Get Projects Done before the Winter Weather and Snow


Last update: 12:59 p.m. EDT Oct. 1, 2008
NEW YORK, Oct 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- New York construction accident attorney, David Perecman, warns the construction industries to carefully plan projects as the winter months arrive. The safety on construction sites can become very hazardous, very quickly as contractors and developers rush workers to get projects completed before winter arrives. As conditions worsen with wind and cold rain, surfaces become slippery. The Perecman Firm is reminding construction site workers to take extreme caution as the Fall and Winter seasons come and temperatures drop to avoid accidents and injuries on construction sites.
"This is the time of year when everyone wants to finish projects faster and may cut corners to get things done. There should be no compromise of the safety on a construction site just to get a project done faster," said David Perecman, lead construction accident attorney for New York's Perecman Firm. "Contractors and developers and New York City needs to monitor construction sites and penalize the managers and companies that force their employees to work in unsafe conditions or rushed conditions that cause less attention to safe work practices."
As winter approaches there are two problems to be aware of, rushing to get things done in the Fall season to avoid the delays of Winter weather and Winter weather itself. "Last year before the tragic weather related accidents I warned workers not to work in the snow. Every year there are accidents and injuries on construction sites due to windy and icy conditions. This year I am warning about the potential for developers and contractors to push the jobs because of the accidents that occurred last year. The New York Times reported that construction injuries have almost doubled from 23 in November of 2006 to 42 the same time in 2007."
About David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:
For the past 25 years, New York construction accident attorney David H. Perecman, the founder of The Perecman Firm, PLLC has championed all types of personal injury and construction cases in New York State. David Perecman is the current Secretary of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law (Construction Accident Law) Committee. Mr. Perecman's achievements, often in the construction accident field, have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's 2008 Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's 2007 publication of "The Best Lawyers in America" and has earned him the votes by his peers as among the top 5% of lawyers in the New York region as published in The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition".
He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients over the course of his career. Among his more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict(1) for an injured NYC construction worker who fractured his arm and injured his knee. Mr. Perecman has spent much of his career advocating for injured victims' rights and safety on construction sites including his recent statements regarding New York City crane construction accidents. The New York personal injury attorneys at The Perecman Firm have a depth of expertise in and breadth of knowledge well recognized in NYC, while their record and reputation speaks for itself.
(1)Later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million.
SOURCE: David Perecman
For David Perecman, New York
Jay Berkowitz, 561-620-9121
jay@tengoldenrules.com




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