Newburgh-Beacon Bridge worker sustains injuries in fall

Maintaining New York’s roads and bridges are a vital part of what keeps New Yorkers on the move. Contractors who maintain our bridges and roadways contribute a vital component to our community. Unfortunately, sometimes the work they do can lead to on-the-job injuries -- often resulting in workers' compensation claims.

Recently, a worker who was working on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge painting project was injured on the job. According to reports, the worker was removing paint from the bridge as part of an ongoing restoration project. The worker allegedly fell 30 feet, landing in a containment system designed to prevent debris from contaminating the Hudson River by collecting paint chips removed from the bridge.

Rescue workers responding to the accident were able to remove the injured man from the containment system and lift him back up to the bridge deck. The victim was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Westbound traffic was halted to allow emergency vehicles to respond to the accident.

This was the second serious work-related injury to occur on this bridge within a short period of time. Although the two incidents were unrelated, there will likely be investigations to determine the root cause of two separate worker-related injuries occurring within such a short period of time.

Contractors working on major projects on New York’s public roadways are often exposed to workplace hazards not seen in many other occupations. Although there are many safety precautions taken by these workers, sometimes they are not enough to prevent serious workplace injuries.