Fatal Construction Falls Spotlighted

Bob Carroll

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As the number of high rise buildings throughout Tampa Bay increase each year we may see more construction workers falling to their deaths. New York City, where every new building is likely to be a high rise, may be the national leader in these tragic accidents.

Construction Worker Falling Deaths Rise

A construction contractor in Union Square yesterday became the latest casualty of the city's construction boom, falling 19 stories to his death....

Since October 2005, there have been 17 fatal falls in construction work citywide, including yesterday's accident,

Data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates there were 17 fatal falls in all of 2005. In 2004, 24 employees fell and died, and in a comparison of the number of such fatalities since 1999, the lowest reported rate was 13 fatal falls in 2001.

The failure to adhere to safety standards is almost always a cause of these deaths. Contractors and employers know what needs to be done to protect workers and are not taking these steps in every situation. Florida does not need to follow NYC's lead in fatal construction falls.