Tunnel work is often considered dangerous work due to the nature of being underground and in enclosed spaces. The true danger actually occurs when supervisors and employers fail to uphold strict safety regulations. If you were hurt while employed as a tunnel worker, you can turn to Lurie, Ilchert, MacDonnell & Ryan LLP and our New York City construction accident attorneys. We are renowned throughout the state for being dedicated legal advocates that have recovered $500+ million for our clients through settlements and verdicts following some of the most complex cases in recent years.

Discover what 50+ years of experience can do for you by calling 646.461.4009.

Safety Regulations & Violations

Members of construction management must work closely with their staff to establish a safe jobsite that remains safe throughout the project. Overlooking one mistake or ignoring a single problem point can create a hazardous construction site in an instant, especially when workers are deep in a tunnel beneath NYC.

Some safety requirements pertaining to tunnel workers are:

  • Training: Extensive training must be completed by all members of the construction team, as monitored by management.
  • Maintenance: Any equipment must be routinely inspected and repaired; problematic machinery should not be used.
  • Airway systems: Tunnel workers face oxygen deprivation issues few other construction crews do; ventilation and filters must be regularly inspected for quality, or else oxygen may run thin or noxious fumes could enter the tunnels.
  • Lighting: Underground jobsites need ample lighting around each corner and lining every pathway; each worker should also be provided a flashlight and a helmet-mounted light.
  • Fire prevention: A fire in a tunnel system can be catastrophic, as it can easily trap workers; typical fire safety standards must be enforced tenfold for underground work.
  • Headcount: Before a tunnel work jobsite opens and closes for the day, supervisors and management should conduct a thorough headcount to make certain no one is missing or lost within the underground network.

Workers’ Compensation for Random Accidents

Dishonest employers or their insurance companies may tell injured workers that they cannot be compensated if they are to blame for their own tunnel work accident. This is not true, as New York’s workers’ compensation laws benefit people hurt at work, even if it was due to their own mistakes. If you have been denied workers’ compensation, our legal team can help you pursue justice in this regard as well, assuming that litigation would not be more profitable for your case.

Count On Us for Hard-Hitting Representation – 646.461.4009

Did your employer put you at unreasonable risk of injury due to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation? Was gross negligence of another at the root of your tunnel worker accident? If you want to be properly compensated and receive money to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and more, you may need to take matters into your own hands and file a lawsuit.

For legal help from start to finish, contact our NYC personal injury lawyers today.