The state of New York recognizes the hazards of working in the construction industry and, in response, enacted a law that requires building owners and general contractors to maintain safety practices and provide proper safety devices to workers engaged in any type of gravity-related job. This law is known as the New York Scaffold Law.
New York Labor Law violations can hold a building owner or general contractor absolutely liable for a construction worker's death because a labor law violation is automatically considered negligence. Filing a New York Scaffold Law claim has no impact on a workers' compensation claim if the responsible party is not the deceased's employer. This type of claim enables survivors to get compensation for the difference in lost earnings of the deceased that are not covered under workers' compensation, as well as wage raises, bonuses, and benefits.