Construction Worker Killed in Cherry Picker Accident in Manhattan

A 45-year-old construction worker tragically lost his life at a construction site in Manhattan on Friday morning after the cherry picker he was operating collided with a steel beam, according to the police.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m., as the worker was elevating in the cherry picker and struck his head against the beam. He was pronounced dead at the scene, located on E. 35th St. near Park Ave. in the Murray Hill neighborhood.
The deceased worker was identified by his brother as Jose Ramirez. A 35-year-old colleague who was also in the cherry picker sustained minor injuries and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, authorities confirmed.
The Department of Buildings (DOB) reported that both workers were standing in the lift at a height of 32 feet when the collision with the beam occurred.
The workers were part of a team tasked with demolishing a one-story building owned by the Community Church of New York, in the Murray Hill area. The building is one of five structures currently being demolished as part of a larger redevelopment project.
The Continuum Company, which purchased the property for $66 million, plans to build a luxury 18-story condominium with 137 units. Representatives from Continuum visited the site following the incident, though they did not provide an immediate comment.
In response to the accident, the DOB issued a statement confirming that engineers and safety inspectors had been dispatched to thoroughly investigate the situation. “Unsafe conditions on work sites and putting workers at risk is unacceptable,” the statement read. “Following our investigation, we will take appropriate enforcement actions against the responsible parties."
Earlier, on October 30, the DOB issued 10 violations to Continuum and the contractors involved, including issues related to the special inspector hired by the developers, who was not registered with the DOB. In November, two separate 311 complaints were filed, citing concerns that demolition activities were causing nearby buildings to shake. However, no violations were issued as the DOB's subsequent inspections found no unsafe conditions.
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