2 dead after falls

Published October 24 2006

In separate accidents, two construction workers fell to their deaths from scaffolding in the city yesterday.

The first accident occurred in Queens when a construction worker who was not wearing a safety harness fell from the Queensboro Bridge when the scaffolding tipped, authorities said.

Police said three workers were lowering themselves on a platform on the bridge's easternmost tower when the accident happened. The victim, Manno Oh, 45, of Clinton, Md., fell onto Roosevelt Island. The two other workers, who were both wearing harnesses, were not hurt.

The accident happened at 11:03 a.m. near Vernon Boulevard and 36th Avenue in Long Island City.

The work was part of the $167 million project to repaint and repair the 97-year-old bridge in time for its centennial in 2009.

The project is being done by a Long Island contractor. The victim worked for subcontractor Alpha Painting and Construction, of Maryland. Management at Alpha Painting would not comment yesterday.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said they would investigate the accident.

About two hours later, a worker at an apartment building at 880 Fifth Ave. who was doing brick pointing work fell five stories to his death. The 63-year-old victim was not immediately identified, pending family notification. The Department of Buildings ruled the death an accident.

There have been three scaffolding deaths in the city in the past month. On Sept. 29, a worker at 42nd Street and Second Avenue fell 12 stories to his death while taking down scaffolding equipment.

In August, a report by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi found that 30 percent of the scaffolding and other equipment randomly inspected last year in the city last year didn't have a valid permit.

James Coleman contributed to this story.

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