A construction worker who’d been helping to renovate the German Masonic Home located at 120 Western Highway in Tappan was critically injured after being crushed by falling debris on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 23.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials, the construction worker has been working on the third floor of the building when its debris chute became clogged.
It was around 1 p.m. that two coworkers went inside of it to see if they could clear it. As they did, it crashed down on the injured worker. He’s been described as a 49-year-old Dumont, New Jersey resident.
When the chute fell, it was reportedly still full of construction debris. The weight of it crashing down on him left him struggling to catch his breath.
Emergency crews quickly responded to the scene. It’s there that firefighters from Tappan, paramedics from both South Orangetown and Rockland and police officers from Orangetown all worked together to try to free the worker.
He was then transported to Nyack Hospital in critical condition. OSHA investigators and local authorities continue to look into the incident.
At the time of the incident, the man had been working in an independent contractor capacity with the Port Jefferson, New York-based Atria Consulting 3.
Work on the exterior of the building has been ongoing since 2016. Interior renovations have only recently begun. It’s unclear what the Masons intend to use the building for.
As of Monday morning, the injured worker was still listed as critical, yet he is described as also being in stable condition. The extent of his injuries is not yet clear.
If you’ve been hurt on the job in Manhattan, then a New York construction accident attorney can advise you of legal remedies that can be pursued in your case.
Source: LoHud.com, “Tappan: Worker in critical condition after being crushed by debris chute,” Christopher J. Eberhart, Feb. 25, 2018