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PLAINTIFF FELL LEAVING AN ELEVATOR HE HAD JUST MODIFIED TO PREVENT ACCESS TO A FLOOR; HIS WORK WAS NOT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE; INDUSTRIAL CODE PROVISIONS ABOUT GUARDING HAZARDOUS OPENINGS APPLIED; ONE DEFENDANT MAY BE LIABLE AS A STATUTORY AGENT; LABOR LAW 200, 240(1) AND 241(6) CAUSES OF ACTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined: (1) plaintiff’s work on the elevator was not routine maintenance and therefore Labor Law 240(1) and 241(6) were applicable; (2) the Labor Law 241(6) cause of action based on Industrial Code provisions requiring the guarding of hazardous openings should not have been dismissed; and (3) there are questions of fact whether one defendant, Edge, based on a subcontract, was liable as a statutory agent under Labor Law 200, 240(1) and 241(6):

Plaintiff and a coworker lowered a building’s freight elevator into the basement to allow plaintiff to perform work on top of the elevator. Plaintiff testified that he spent about 40 minutes performing that work, which involved making changes to the elevator in order to prevent people from accessing a first-floor renovation site by means of the elevator’s rear door. The elevator’s front door opened onto an outdoor area. After performing this task, plaintiff claims that he tripped on a wooden ramp, which led from a loading dock to the elevator, and fell. …

… [P]laintiff was engaged in altering the premises within the meaning of Labor Law § 240(1), since his work was intended to secure the premises in preparation for the renovation project … .

The Labor Law § 241(6) claim should be reinstated insofar as it is based on alleged violations of Industrial Code §§ 23-1.7(b)(1)(i) and 23-1.15(a), since there are issues of fact as to whether plaintiff’s accident was proximately caused by the lack of a compliant “safety railing” guarding the “hazardous opening,” and it is undisputed that the opening was not “guarded by a substantial cover fastened in place” (12 NYCRR § 23-1.7[b][1][i]). …

… [T]here is testimonial evidence that the subcontract made Edge responsible for performing all aspects of the sidewalk excavation, including safety procedures. Moreover, there are issues of fact as to whether Edge created or had notice of the defective condition that caused plaintiff to fall into the excavation hole … . Rooney v D.P. Consulting Corp., 2022 NY Slip Op 02243, First Dept 4-5-22

Practice Point: This case found that a subcontractor responsible for safety procedures could be liable as a statutory agent under Labor Law 200, 240(1) and 241(6).

 

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