Two Construction Workers Hurt as Roof Collapses in New York

A roof collapsed at the Colonial School in Pelham, New York which was under construction on August 31, 2009. The construction accident sent two workers to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. Colonial School was undergoing a two-story addition and there were at least ten workers on the job site at the time of the accident.

According to Pelham Police Chief Joseph Benefico, the workers were cutting the first floor when the accident happened. Benefico said, “The front wall pitched out and the roof collapsed.” The two injured workers’ condition was not known, but they were both carried out on stretchers.

A construction accident happens when a worker least expects it. Construction workers are exposed to many hazards on the job including a heavy object falling from above, scaffolding collapses, a piece of equipment malfunctioning, just to name a few. Construction companies emphasize safe working conditions, encourage the use of safety devices and train their workers to reduce the risk of an accident. Despite the precautions taken by the companies, the risks of construction will always be there.