Construction worker's fatal fall on Gateway tunnel site raises concerns over labor pressures and safety measures.
A 52-year-old construction worker, Jorge Sanchez, who fell to his death at the Hudson River Tunnel project last week, reportedly put in excessive hours leading up to his demise. His colleague, Nery Rodas, described the grueling schedule as "crazy hours" that were likely exacerbated by managers' push for accelerated completion of the $16.1 billion project.
Sanchez and Rodas both worked long hours, including a weekend shift where Sanchez logged 35 hours straight and Rodas clocked 23 hours non-stop. This kind of prolonged work can take a toll on human error, according to Rodas. The pressure to meet tight deadlines might have contributed to the tragic accident.
Sanchez was harnessed to a concrete wall alongside two other workers when he fell about 50 feet. Authorities are still investigating the cause of his death. The Gateway Development Commission has deferred questions about Sanchez's demise to Amtrak and Related Companies, which own the property where the incident occurred. No comment from these companies has been made.
Despite Sanchez's tough work ethic, Rodas said that he never complained about the long hours. As an immigrant who came to the US to work, Sanchez seemed to take his job seriously but also prioritize spending time with his loved ones and ensuring a safe working environment for everyone around him.
In light of this tragic accident, concerns have been raised about safety measures on construction sites in New York City. OSHA instructor Mike Power suggests that there may be an issue with Sanchez's harness that contributed to the fall. The work area is monitored by video, which could provide crucial footage of the incident.
The Gateway Project has faced funding threats from President Donald Trump due to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer's role in the ongoing government shutdown. However, Rodas emphasizes that workers such as Sanchez came to the US with a purpose - to build a better life for themselves and their families, not to engage in politics or take unnecessary risks.
As the investigation into Sanchez's death unfolds, his colleagues are left to process the loss of a friend and comrade who died doing what he loved.
A 52-year-old construction worker, Jorge Sanchez, who fell to his death at the Hudson River Tunnel project last week, reportedly put in excessive hours leading up to his demise. His colleague, Nery Rodas, described the grueling schedule as "crazy hours" that were likely exacerbated by managers' push for accelerated completion of the $16.1 billion project.
Sanchez and Rodas both worked long hours, including a weekend shift where Sanchez logged 35 hours straight and Rodas clocked 23 hours non-stop. This kind of prolonged work can take a toll on human error, according to Rodas. The pressure to meet tight deadlines might have contributed to the tragic accident.
Sanchez was harnessed to a concrete wall alongside two other workers when he fell about 50 feet. Authorities are still investigating the cause of his death. The Gateway Development Commission has deferred questions about Sanchez's demise to Amtrak and Related Companies, which own the property where the incident occurred. No comment from these companies has been made.
Despite Sanchez's tough work ethic, Rodas said that he never complained about the long hours. As an immigrant who came to the US to work, Sanchez seemed to take his job seriously but also prioritize spending time with his loved ones and ensuring a safe working environment for everyone around him.
In light of this tragic accident, concerns have been raised about safety measures on construction sites in New York City. OSHA instructor Mike Power suggests that there may be an issue with Sanchez's harness that contributed to the fall. The work area is monitored by video, which could provide crucial footage of the incident.
The Gateway Project has faced funding threats from President Donald Trump due to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer's role in the ongoing government shutdown. However, Rodas emphasizes that workers such as Sanchez came to the US with a purpose - to build a better life for themselves and their families, not to engage in politics or take unnecessary risks.
As the investigation into Sanchez's death unfolds, his colleagues are left to process the loss of a friend and comrade who died doing what he loved.
The news about Jorge Sanchez is super sad 
. I'm thinking that we need to talk more about safety measures in construction sites 
. 35 hours straight without a break? That's crazy 
! It's no wonder something went wrong. We gotta make sure workers are safe on the job, especially when they're working at heights or with heavy machinery 
. I'm worried that companies might be pushing for more work to get the project done faster, but that's not worth risking people's lives 
. Let's hope the investigation finds out what happened and makes sure something like this never happens again 
.
. and now his friend's dead because of it. i mean, i get it, deadlines gotta be met but can't we find a way to do this without sacrificing people's lives? 
. the fact that they're deflecting blame from themselves doesn't help either...it's like, yeah sure, maybe there was an issue with the harness, but what were they supposed to do about it? 
. we need better safety measures in place, for real 
... I mean, on one hand, it's super sad that Jorge Sanchez died and stuff 
And honestly, I don't know whether it's the harness or what that contributed to his fall. Maybe we should just be careful and listen to experts before jumping to conclusions? 
, their eggs benedict is insane! anyway, construction workers need some serious support, not just physical but mental too... 35 hours straight? that's like trying to power a car with human energy lol. and it makes me wonder, what's the deal with tunnel projects? are they just gonna rush through without checking the safety measures first? OSHA should be on top of this ASAP 
And what's with the deferred questions? Amtrak and Related Companies just gonna sit on that one? It's like they're trying to avoid getting caught having a bad workman (no pun intended).
and I'm still thinking about how good that spicy tuna roll was... anyway, this whole thing with Jorge Sanchez is super sad 
. Do you think the video footage will help figure out what went wrong? And why did he have to die doing his job? It's just so senseless 
osha instructor Mike Power should be able to provide some clarity on what happened. i hope the investigation is thorough & finds out exactly what went wrong 
35 hours straight without a break is insane, no wonder the guy was so stressed out 
i feel for his family and colleagues who have to live with this tragedy every day 
I mean, Sanchez was a seasoned worker but even he couldn't escape the pressure of those crazy hours. 
The stats on work-related accidents are already mind-boggling - did u know that OSHA reports 30 fatalities per year due to construction site accidents? 
We need better regulations and enforcement to prevent tragedies like this from happening again. 
. As concerns about labor pressures and safety measures continue to mount, it's essential to prioritize a more humane approach to workforce management and invest in robust safety protocols 
. Anyway, I'm really worried about these guys working on the Gateway tunnel project, 35 hours straight is crazy 
. By the way, have you guys tried that new coffee shop downtown? Their cold brew is amazing 
️!
50 feet straight down... that's not even safe for a stuntman, let alone some construction worker trying to make ends meet. I mean, OSHA instructor says maybe the harness was faulty? That's already giving me anxiety 
. But what really gets me is that this guy came here with hopes of building a life & instead, he's fighting for his own life on the job site