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Omaha Steve

(99,061 posts)
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:06 PM Apr 2013

72% of 2012 NYC Construction Deaths Took Place on Non-Union Work Sites


From E-mail: 72% of 2012 NYC Construction Deaths Took Place on Non-Union Work Sites -- http://bit.ly/12NN6oW #1u

A new report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows that construction deaths more than tripled on NYC work sites last year with 21 workplace fatalities versus six the year before.

The sudden surge coincides with an uptick in building projects in the region and represents the most construction workplace deaths the city has seen since the recession began in 2008. Of the 21 fatalities, eight were caused by building collapses and eight were caused by falls. Another four workers were killed from falling debris and one worker was fatally wounded from an unspecified injury. Broken up by borough, nine of the fatalities were found in Manhattan, four in Brooklyn and Queens respectively, three in the Bronx, and one on Staten Island.

Bittersweet, a major work surge is being blamed for the higher death toll. As Henry Robbins, a real-estate expert with Yale Robbins Inc., explained to the New York Post,
“The more activity you’ve got, the more problems you’re going to have. It’s like the more miles on your car, the greater likelihood of an accident.”

It took the slow work period of 2009-2011 to amass 21 construction fatalities in NYC. Compare that to 2006-2008, before the collapse of the housing bubble, when 83 workplace fatalities were reported.

The OSHA report found that workplace fatalities were less common on union worksites. Nearly three quarters of fatalities in 2012 occured on nonunion sites.
The agency’s study also showed that 72 percent of deaths in 2012 occurred on nonunion work sites, with 28 percent occurring on union sites.

“Union-construction sites are inherently safer for workers than nonunion sites,” said Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers Association. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is getting our employees home to their families.”


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72% of 2012 NYC Construction Deaths Took Place on Non-Union Work Sites (Original Post) Omaha Steve Apr 2013 OP
It's not just about wages and benefits. Brickbat Apr 2013 #1
Are there also more union than non-union sites? Scuba Apr 2013 #2
The answer I got Omaha Steve Apr 2013 #5
Well if the market is 50/50 on union/non union, then the union safety numbers look great. Scuba Apr 2013 #6
It's simple KT2000 Apr 2013 #3
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is getting our employees home to their families.” Ernesto Apr 2013 #4

Omaha Steve

(99,061 posts)
5. The answer I got
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 11:10 AM
Apr 2013

It is hard to document due to the rampant "off-the-books" and "Misclassification of workers" in the field, the closest I can come to an estimate is from a union Worker, whom I do not know where they get their information. They estimate non-union as having 40% of the market share and climbing as of Aug.2012

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
6. Well if the market is 50/50 on union/non union, then the union safety numbers look great.
Sat Apr 13, 2013, 11:34 AM
Apr 2013

I wonder also about reporting compliance in union vs non-union job sites. Again, it's apparent unions are protecting worker safety.

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
3. It's simple
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:29 PM
Apr 2013

Let's say you are working on a site and see dangerous practices and hazards. Who do you tell about this? No one. Risk your safety or life or quit.

Ernesto

(5,077 posts)
4. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is getting our employees home to their families.”
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 02:19 PM
Apr 2013

I'm a retired UNION sheet metal worker. In my final 10 years, I ran large crews on construction projects. I rarely screamed at my people UNLESS they were bending safety rules! Only then did I threaten to send them home!
I'm very proud that no one got killed on my watch.

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