Earlier this week, a three-story building collapsed unexpectedly, injuring three construction workers and a passerby. The building accident occurred around 1:30pm Monday afternoon in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The workers were reportedly adding a fourth floor to the building and removed a critical beam, which made the building unstable.
One construction worker was trapped in the debris for roughly 20 minutes while coworkers and passerby worked to free him. He was buried up to his neck and was transported to Bellevue Hospital in critical but stable condition.
Injuries to the other two workers were less severe. One injured worker escaped with minor injuries, and another refused medical treatment after sustaining minor bumps and bruises. A pedestrian who rushed to aid the injured workers was taken to the hospital for observation.
A building department spokesperson said building violations will be issued in connection with the incident.
Source: 3 construction workers and a passerby hurt in Williamsburg building collapse, New York Daily News, March 29, 2010
Contact a Massachusetts workplace injury lawyer if you have been injured on the job.