Construction Worker Dies in Scaffolding Collapse

2008_09_scaffall.jpgIt's a phrase that's become too familiar: Yesterday, a worker died in a construction accident. According to the Daily News, Miguel Rodriguez, 38, fell five stories from his scaffolding: "Rodriguez was wearing a harness, but it was not tethered to the W. 111th St. building in Morningside Heights where he was repointing bricks, witnesses and officials said." In Brooklyn, a worker was injured when he fell three stories at a site--he was not wearing his harness. Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said, "These things should never happen. If you're a construction worker, be safe, wear your harness and tie your lifeline." Just last week, a crane rigger fell 40 stories--he, too, was wearing a harness but it was not attached to anything.

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"Just last week, a crane rigger fell 40 stories--he, too, was wearing a harnessed but it was not attached to anything."

How did I know this was going to be a Jen Chung post?

Not tethering your lifeline if you're a construction worker on a scaffold makes as much sense as a cyclist not wearing a helmet.

Hey, I went helmetless on a bike once. On Governors Island, where I could cruise at 7mph in the middle of the road with no cars around. What can I say, I'm an adrenaline addict. But you couldn't pay me enough to work that high without clipping in.

I live a block away from this construction site -- it's in South Harlem, not Morningside Heights.

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nice inflammatory way to lead into the bike story.
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