Worker falls to his death on East Side

Dept. of Buildings investigating nine-story plunge

by amy zimmer / metro new york

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APR 15, 2008

YORKTOWN. A construction worker installing windows on the 23rd floor of an Upper East Side condo under construction plunged to his death yesterday after an apparent failure of the nylon safety strap connecting him to the building, Department of Building officials said.

Kevin Kelly, 25, of Bayside, was working at 400 E. 67th Street at around 10:30 a.m. when he fell to the 14th floor balcony.

“As part of our investigation, our team is now auditing the method the crews used to install the safety straps throughout the building,” Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said. “A full safety inspection is underway, and Buildings forensic engineers are investigating the incident.”

The First Avenue building, known as the Laurel — which will boast a triathlon training center and 50-foot lap pool, its Web site says — has 25 violations on file, from incomplete paperwork to not paying fines to improper netting. The DOB issued a stop-work order.

The accident occurred about two blocks from where two window washers plummeted 47 stories in December, resulting in one death and one miraculous recovery. Last month, a crane collapse 16 blocks away killed seven.

Kelly worked for New York Window, a subcontractor for the Hunter Roberts Construction Group. “We will cooperate fully with the city’s investigation of this tragic event,” said the building’s developer, the Alexico Group.