By: David Cheverie
Washing the windows of high-rise buildings in New York City is a very dangerous and strenuous job. Workers spend countless hours hanging twenty stories in the air to get the windows to sparkle. Unfortunately, there is much opportunity for injury while performing such a perilous task. However, legal remedies are available to help properly compensate window washers injured on the job. Call us today if you were injured in a window-washing accident that wasn’t your fault.
Window Washing Labor Laws
Section 202 of the New York Labor Law requires that “the owner, lessee, agent, and manager of every public building and every contractor involved shall provide such safe means for the cleaning of the windows and of exterior surfaces of such building as may be required and approved by the board of standards and appeals.” Additionally, any window or exterior surface of their building may not be cleaned unless such means are provided to enable such work to be done safely to prevent accidents and protect the public and persons engaged in such work. The New York laws thus promote an environment in which the safety of window washers is of the utmost importance. However, this does not mean that all accidents will be avoided nor that all building owners will follow these rules.
When a building owner, lessee, agent, or manager of a public building does not take the proper precautions to protect the safety of the window washers, unfortunate injuries can occur. This will leave a worker with expensive medical bills and lost wages. Although workers may be entitled to workers’ compensation, which provides weekly cash benefits and medical care for workers, this is often inadequate. Thus, injured workers are left struggling to pay bills and support their families.
Call our Window Washing Accident Attorneys
Thus, the best route for a worker injured while washing windows due to inadequate safety measures is to pursue a personal injury claim. A worker could be eligible to receive payment beyond that obtained by worker’s compensation and thus feel more comfortable about his or her post-accident financial state. The attorneys of Hach & Rose, LLP frequently advocate for window washers who are victims of accidents that take place on the job. If you have been injured, call our offices at 212-779-0057 to speak with a construction accident attorney about your options.