Gorayeb & Associates highlights worker rights as NYC expands crane licensing

New York City is adding licensing requirements for smaller cranes and hoisting machines as federal data continue to show the deadly risks of crane work. Gorayeb & Associates says injured workers may have claims against multiple parties beyond workers' compensation and should move fast to preserve evidence.

Why it matters: - Crane accidents can trigger claims against building owners, contractors, crane owners, lessors and manufacturers, not just a workers' compensation case. - New York Labor Law Sections 240(1) and 241(6) place nondelegable safety duties on property owners and general contractors. - Those protections apply regardless of a worker's immigration status. - Quick evidence collection can affect the value of a claim because site conditions, equipment and witness information can disappear fast.

What happened: - Gorayeb & Associates, a New York personal injury firm founded in 1986 by Christopher J. Gorayeb, issued guidance on the rights of workers hurt in crane, derrick, hoist and rigging accidents. - The firm tied that guidance to New York City's phase-in of new licensing requirements for operators of smaller cranes and lifting machines. - Christopher J. Gorayeb said crane accidents usually reflect rigging shortcuts, skipped lift plans, unweighed loads or uninspected machines rather than a simple operator mistake. - The firm said injured workers should get medical care, report the incident in writing the same day and avoid giving an insurance statement before consulting counsel. - The company said the full information is available at More information.

The details: - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says cranes killed an average of 42 workers a year in the United States from 2011 through 2017. - More than half of those fatalities involved a worker struck by an object or piece of equipment. - Roughly one-third of crane-related deaths involved workers in transportation and material moving jobs, and more than half of those deaths involved crane operators. - Another 31% involved workers in construction and extraction trades. - The fatality average fell from 78 a year between 1992 and 2010 to 42 a year between 2011 and 2017. - That decline tracked the rollout of the federal crane standard that requires operator certification and stricter inspection. - New York City's Department of Buildings recorded 638 construction incidents and 482 worker injuries in 2024, both near 10-year lows. - The city conducted 416,290 field inspections in 2024, the most on record. - The Department of Buildings cited new licensing requirements for operators of smaller crane devices and hoisting machines as one factor behind the improvement. - Gorayeb said workers should document the make and model of the equipment, the operator name, the rigging company and site photographs before the area is cleared. - Gorayeb also warned that a crane case can involve the building owner, contractor, crane owner, lessor and manufacturer.

Between the lines: - New York City's licensing changes appear aimed at tightening oversight of lifting equipment before accidents happen, while the legal guidance focuses on what workers should do after an incident. - The legal message is that liability can extend well beyond the person operating the crane, which can widen the pool of potentially responsible parties in serious injuries. - The emphasis on fast evidence preservation suggests these cases often turn on documentation, not just medical harm.

What's next: - Workers hurt in crane, hoist or rigging accidents may pursue claims beyond workers' compensation if evidence supports liability by owners, contractors, equipment companies or manufacturers. - The firm expects injured workers to seek immediate treatment, make a written report the same day and speak with counsel before dealing with insurers. - New York City's licensing rollout for smaller crane and lifting machines will continue to shape how these jobs are supervised and inspected.

The bottom line: - Crane and hoisting accidents remain high-risk, and New York law can give injured workers multiple paths to recover if they act quickly and preserve evidence.