Abogados de Accidentes de
Construcción en Rockaway

Yes. Workers on FEMA-funded reconstruction projects have full Labor Law 240 protection. Federal funding does not change state labor law requirements. Property owners and contractors on federally-funded projects have the same scaffold law liability as any other construction project. Whether you're working on a FEMA Build Back project, state-funded reconstruction, or privately-funded rebuilding, your rights under the scaffold law are identical.

Home elevation construction—raising houses above flood levels—presents unique hazards. Workers operate at significant heights during the lifting process, working around and beneath structures supported on temporary jacks or cribbing. Falls from scaffolds and ladders during elevation work occur at heights combining the structure's original height plus the elevation distance. Unstable conditions as homes are jacked up create additional risks. All of these hazards are covered by Labor Law 240—property owners and contractors must provide adequate fall protection during every phase of elevation work.

Boardwalk construction is typically a government project involving the City of New York or Parks Department. Government entities can be held liable under Labor Law 240, though specific notice requirements apply—typically 90 days to file a notice of claim against city agencies. Private contractors on government projects are also fully liable under the scaffold law. If you suffered a scaffold fall, ladder accident, or other gravity-related injury during boardwalk construction, consult an attorney promptly to meet notice deadlines for claims involving government entities.

Coastal construction presents additional hazards—unstable sandy soil, water exposure, salt air corrosion, and weather extremes—but the legal protections are identical to any construction. Labor Law 240 covers all construction regardless of location or environmental conditions. The challenging conditions of coastal work may actually strengthen a case by demonstrating the heightened need for proper safety equipment and procedures. Falls from elevated boardwalk construction, scaffold accidents during seawall work, and ladder falls during coastal infrastructure projects are all covered.

If you were working on your own home as the owner-occupant performing construction yourself, Labor Law 240 generally does not apply. However, if you hired a contractor—even a friend or family member—or if your home has three or more residential units, or if you were injured by another party's negligence, you may still have claims. Most Sandy reconstruction involved hiring contractors rather than owner self-construction. Consult an attorney to understand your specific situation—many apparent owner-occupant situations still create viable Labor Law 240 claims.