New York City officials are investigating the death of a 42-year-old construction worker who fell four stories at a Queens jobsite Monday evening, prompting a full stop-work order and a multi-agency review of conditions at the site.
According to NYPD officials, officers responded to a 911 call around 6 p.m. at 37-28 Crescent St. in Dutch Kills, where a new condominium project has been under construction since June. When officers arrived, they found the worker unconscious. He was transported to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
A complaint filed with the city Department of Buildings (DOB) states that the worker “fell from a fourth-floor deck on Monday and was hospitalized.” A DOB spokesperson confirmed the man fell roughly 30 feet after stepping onto balcony formwork that “wasn't properly braced and gave way.”
In an email, the DOB added that the agency was informed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration that the worker had died. Following the incident, the department issued a full stop-work order, halting all activity at the active six-story mixed-use development.
City inspectors returned to the site on Tuesday and continue to examine structural supports, safety systems, and contractor compliance records. The DOB said the investigation remains ongoing, and further enforcement actions may follow depending on what inspectors uncover.
NYPD officials also noted that the city’s medical examiners are still working to determine the official cause of death and have not yet publicly identified the worker.
Two companies reportedly connected to the project did not immediately respond to inquiries about site conditions, safety protocols, or their role in the work occurring Monday evening.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of serious injuries and fatalities at New York City construction sites, particularly on smaller or non-union projects where oversight gaps are more common. Safety advocates say the fall highlights ongoing concerns about formwork stability, fall protection systems, and worker training on rapidly moving jobsites.
Originally reported by Brittany Kriegstein in Gothamist.
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