February 14, 2023
But some members of the New York City Special Riggers Association report an increase by mostly new workers who “fall from a very, very low height,” sometimes on unobstructed stairwells inside a building, says Michael DiFonzo, president of Central Construction Management, LLC and vice-president of the NYCSRA, which has about 100 members working on tall buildings.DiFonzo’s company has seen a pattern of suspicious claims recently.
DiFonzo says injured workers can’t claim ignorance of safety hazards because the city requires all workers to have completed more than 40 hours of safety training, including a 30-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration course before they can step foot on a construction site. Usually the claims are for a minor injury, such as a trip or fall from a short height, says Jesus Rico, director of field operations.Rico, who is secretary of the NYCSRA, explains he faces up to six to 10 claims a year. His insurance deductible is $10,000.
“When you see a pattern and then you see a certain law firm they are using or a certain doctor they might be using, it seems very point loaded in the type of injury,” DiFonzo adds.