The latest in mainstream safety news is that 28 year-old Anthony Paino, while working on a 10 story hotel undergoing construction, was not wearing a harness while working on the Gansevoort Hotel, and fell 10 stories to his death, on the top of an adjacent building.  Paino was working for a steel

Anthony Paino and Fiance'

subcontractor by the name of L.M.C. Specialties, working under Levine Builders, General Contractor.  Other employees had confirmed that Paino was not wearing the safety harness used to prevent falls of this nature.

What will surprise most is that there is actually an on-site Safety Manager, who worked for Total Safety Consulting, who was present at the hotel during the accident.  Steve Solomon, a spokesman for Levine Builders, was quoted saying, “We strongly believe that all of the safety precautions were taken on this job.”

The New York Department of Buildings issued eight Environmental Control Board issues as follows :

• Failure to provide adequate guardrails on the seventh, ninth, tenth floors
• Failure to provide horizontal safety netting on the seventh floor
• Failure to safeguard the public and property
• Failure to provide overhead protection on the third-floor setback
• Failure to provide overhead protection on the fourth-floor setback
• Failure to provide protection near holes throughout the job site
• Smoking refuse
• Obstructed standpipe and stairwell

The Department of Buildings has also issued a stop-work order on the Hotel until further Notice.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Anthony.  Unfortunately these accidents are all too common, even more unfortunately, they are almost always preventable, with vigilant focus on safety, and following the required safety guidelines.  Our hope is that Anthony’s accident will inspire others to pay attention and always operate safely no matter what the conditions or circumstances.