Construction Worker's Death Sparks Concern Over Overtime and Safety Measures on Manhattan Jobsite
A 52-year-old construction worker, Jorge Sanchez, died after falling from a recently poured concrete wall at the Gateway tunnel site in Manhattan. The incident has raised concerns about the excessive hours worked by workers in recent weeks to catch up on delays to the project's schedule.
According to his colleague and best friend, Nery Rodas, Sanchez had been working long hours, including a 35-hour shift earlier this month, while Rodas himself clocked in for 23 hours straight. The pressure from managers to work longer hours may have contributed to human error on the site, Rodas warned.
The death highlights the dangers faced by construction workers on jobsites across New York City. Sanchez was harnessed to a wall alongside two other workers when he fell roughly 50 feet, an incident that has left investigators searching for the cause.
In contrast, Rodas described Sanchez as a diligent and skilled worker who never complained about long hours. The friend recalled how Sanchez would say he had come to the US to work, not for vacation or leisure, emphasizing his dedication to providing for his family.
While officials from the Gateway Development Commission have deferred questions about the incident to Amtrak and Related Companies, which own the property where Sanchez died, Mike Power, an OSHA instructor and carpenter, speculated that a problem with Sanchez's harness could be the cause of the fall. He noted that construction is one of the deadliest trades globally and that even with safety standards in place, accidents can still occur.
The death also brings to light concerns about federal funding for the Gateway Project, which has been threatened by President Trump's vow to target the project due to US Sen. Chuck Schumer's role in the ongoing government shutdown. However, Rodas emphasized that workers like Sanchez die every day on jobsites without fanfare or recognition, simply because they are doing their job with dedication and hard work.
As investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding Sanchez's death, his friend and colleague is left grappling with the harsh realities of life as a construction worker in New York City.
A 52-year-old construction worker, Jorge Sanchez, died after falling from a recently poured concrete wall at the Gateway tunnel site in Manhattan. The incident has raised concerns about the excessive hours worked by workers in recent weeks to catch up on delays to the project's schedule.
According to his colleague and best friend, Nery Rodas, Sanchez had been working long hours, including a 35-hour shift earlier this month, while Rodas himself clocked in for 23 hours straight. The pressure from managers to work longer hours may have contributed to human error on the site, Rodas warned.
The death highlights the dangers faced by construction workers on jobsites across New York City. Sanchez was harnessed to a wall alongside two other workers when he fell roughly 50 feet, an incident that has left investigators searching for the cause.
In contrast, Rodas described Sanchez as a diligent and skilled worker who never complained about long hours. The friend recalled how Sanchez would say he had come to the US to work, not for vacation or leisure, emphasizing his dedication to providing for his family.
While officials from the Gateway Development Commission have deferred questions about the incident to Amtrak and Related Companies, which own the property where Sanchez died, Mike Power, an OSHA instructor and carpenter, speculated that a problem with Sanchez's harness could be the cause of the fall. He noted that construction is one of the deadliest trades globally and that even with safety standards in place, accidents can still occur.
The death also brings to light concerns about federal funding for the Gateway Project, which has been threatened by President Trump's vow to target the project due to US Sen. Chuck Schumer's role in the ongoing government shutdown. However, Rodas emphasized that workers like Sanchez die every day on jobsites without fanfare or recognition, simply because they are doing their job with dedication and hard work.
As investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding Sanchez's death, his friend and colleague is left grappling with the harsh realities of life as a construction worker in New York City.
... construction workers do such important jobs but it feels like they're treated like disposable pieces of flesh 
. 35-hour shifts are crazy and Sanchez's friend Nery said he never complained about long hours, just did his job to provide for his family 
. the problem with safety measures is real and needs to be addressed ASAP 
. and can we pls not make this a politicized thing? let's focus on making construction sites safer for everyone 
. OSHA should step up their game too, it's not like they're doing enough already 
.
This is so sad, I mean, we all know construction work can be tough but for someone to lose their life like that... it's just not right 
. We should really be paying more attention to those guys and making sure they're safe at work 
. I'm all for a good project, but not if it means sacrificing our own lives 
.
it breaks my heart thinking about Nery and Jorge's lives before they even got to enjoy their weekends or even celebrate birthdays, and all because they were working crazy hours trying to meet the project schedule 
️ what's the point of having safety standards if they're not enforced? i mean, construction is already one of those super risky jobs, but does anyone care about the workers' well-being until it's too late? 
it's just not fair that he had to risk his life for a project that should prioritize safety over profit. 35+ hours of work in a row is insane, no wonder there are so many accidents on the jobsite 
it's time we rethink our priorities & make sure workers like sanchez are protected 
this is so sad, 52 years old and he dies on the job 
my uncle works construction sometimes and he always says it's not worth risking his life like that 
I can imagine how tough it must be for Jorge to have worked those hours, just thinking about his friend's account is giving me chills 
. I feel so bad for Nery Rodas and the whole construction community, they deserve better 
.
. i mean, 50 feet fall is no joke! Sanchez was literally harnessed in, so it's gotta be something with his harness or maybe even a equipment failure 
.
. i mean, Sanchez was a skilled worker who never complained, but still, he died young. it's just heartbreaking 
... Sanchez was just trying to make a living, not be some kinda hero 
, but I guess when you're dead, nobody remembers your name or story 
We need to make sure these guys are protected and respected on the job site. This is a wake-up call for all of us to take a closer look at how we're treating our construction workers. It's time to give them the recognition they deserve, not just in words but with real action too! 
This is just crazy 
. It's like, what's wrong with our system? Are we really expecting people to work themselves to death for the sake of a project?! 
The harness thing makes sense, btw 
. We should be prioritizing safety over productivity, no question 
The friend's words really hit me - "he came here to work, not for vacation or leisure" 
. It's heartbreaking that we're losing people like Sanchez every day without even a whisper of recognition 
This should be about one thing: keeping workers safe! 
just kidding). Seriously though, we need to prioritize safety above all else.