New York, NY, February 20, 2026 (PinionNewswire) — Gorayeb & Associates, P.C. today announced the launch of the New York Scaffold Law Defense Coalition, a data-focused initiative aimed at providing verified statistics, legal analysis, and public resources related to Labor Law §240 amid ongoing discussions about potential reforms to the statute.
The Coalition launches as construction worker fatalities in New York have reached their highest level in a decade. According to publicly available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), 30 construction workers died in New York City in 2023, with 74 fatalities statewide. Falls from elevation accounted for approximately 48% of construction-related deaths over the past decade.
Labor Law §240, commonly referred to as the Scaffold Law, was enacted in 1885 and requires property owners and general contractors to provide adequate safety protections for workers performing elevation-related tasks. The law establishes liability standards in cases where required safety equipment is not properly provided.
The Coalition’s website, NYScaffoldLaw.com, provides year-by-year analysis of construction fatality trends from 2020 through 2023, documentation of safety violation patterns, and legal commentary examining how the statute operates within New York’s broader workplace safety framework.
“Construction safety remains a serious concern in New York,” said Christopher Gorayeb, founder of Gorayeb & Associates. “Our goal is to provide policymakers and the public with accessible data and legal context so discussions about Labor Law §240 are grounded in documented trends and established workplace safety standards.”
Industry groups have argued that the Scaffold Law increases insurance premiums and project costs. Advocates of the statute maintain that it plays an important role in promoting safety compliance and accountability in high-risk construction environments.
According to available reporting, New York State construction fatalities increased from 50 in 2022 to 74 in 2023. Advocacy organizations have also noted staffing reductions at the NYC Department of Buildings in 2024, raising questions about enforcement capacity amid ongoing construction activity.
Gorayeb & Associates has represented construction workers in elevation-related injury cases for several decades. The firm states that many of these cases involved alleged failures to provide required fall protection or safety equipment, circumstances addressed by Labor Law §240.
The Coalition will engage with construction unions, worker advocacy groups, and safety organizations to provide research and commentary during legislative discussions. Legal experts affiliated with the initiative are available for media interviews and public testimony.
“Our intention is to support informed discussion,” Gorayeb said. “Workplace safety laws should be evaluated based on evidence, data, and the real-world impact on workers.”
About the New York Scaffold Law Defense Coalition
The New York Scaffold Law Defense Coalition provides data resources, legal analysis, and documentation related to Labor Law §240. The Coalition serves legislators, journalists, researchers, and legal professionals examining workplace safety policy in New York.
More information is available at: NYScaffoldLaw.com
About Gorayeb & Associates, P.C.
Founded in 1986, Gorayeb & Associates, P.C. is a New York-based personal injury law firm representing workers in construction and workplace accident cases.
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