OSHA Investigation Underway After Five Construction Workers Were Hospitalized Following Elevator Collapse at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona
VERONA, NEW YORK (January 19, 2026) – Five construction workers were injured after an elevator collapsed at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona on Patrick Road.
Oneida County officials are saying that the accident took place on Tuesday afternoon. The workers were using a temporary construction elevator.
For undetermined reasons, that elevator collapsed and trapped all five workers inside. Apparently, the elevator fell 2-3 floors before hitting the bottom level.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to Turning Stone Resort Casino to help all of the victims. They were pulled from the elevator and transported to local hospitals.
Multiple victims sustained broken bones and various other injuries. The accident took place as they were in the process of removing the construction elevator.
Liability for Verona Elevator Accidents
Business owners in New York have a legal obligation to maintain work sites in a reasonably safe condition. According to New York Labor Law § 200, “All places to which this chapter applies shall be so constructed, equipped, arranged, operated and conducted as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and safety of all persons employed therein or lawfully frequenting such places.” In particular, several measures should be taken to prevent elevator accidents.
- Proper Installation: Elevators should only be constructed by licensed professionals. These elevators must have aligned and anchored guide rails.
- Guards: Elevators at construction sites should be fully guarded at every floor. Unguarded elevators represent a major fall hazard.
- Lockout/Tagout: Construction workers should be trained to follow all lockout/tagout procedures for elevators at construction sites. Only authorized personnel should be able to remove the locks on these elevators.
- Gate Safety: Any elevators at construction sites should have hoistway doors that are interlocked. Elevators should never be able to move when the doors are open.
If a worker is injured due to a dangerous condition at a construction site, their employer could be held directly liable for the accident. Another source of direct liability for construction site accidents comes through New York Labor Law § 240, the ‘Scaffold Law.’ Under the statute, building owners or general contractors can be directly liable for gravity-related accidents. This includes instances where workers are injured in a fall or hit by falling objects.
Common Causes of New York Elevator Accidents
A number of workers are seriously injured or killed in elevator accidents every year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “There is an upward trend in elevator-related fatalities in construction, as the number of deaths and rate has doubled from 2003 to 2016. Between 2011 and 2016, 145 construction workers died due to elevator-related injuries, accounting for more than half of such fatalities in all industries.” There are many common causes of elevator accidents at construction sites.
- Open Elevator Shafts: An elevator may lack adequate shaft barricades.
- Lighting: Poor lighting at a construction site could obscure the presence of fall hazards.
- Mechanical Failures: Construction elevators may have mechanical failures that contribute to an accident. This could include faulty cables or defective brake systems.
- Faulty Installation: Another common cause of elevator accidents is improper installation assembly. An elevator may lack the correct bolts or fasteners.
Elevator accidents routinely leave workers with catastrophic injuries. These incidents can impact their ability to return to work or even perform everyday activities. Unfortunately, construction companies will often fight hard to deny responsibility if any worker is injured in an elevator accident. This is why it is so important that workplace accidents are properly investigated by an outside party with extensive knowledge of New York’s labor laws. Any worker injured in a construction accident may be able to pursue damages through a personal injury claim.
Investigating New York City Dump Truck Accidents
We at Richmond Vona extend our best wishes to all of the workers injured in this elevator accident at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents can be prevented. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. What is the safety record at this construction site? Were any OSHA safety regulations violated?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Oneida County elevator accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of construction accident attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping the victims of construction accidents get all of the medical and financial support that they are entitled to under the law. You can rest assured that our team will move heaven and earth to protect your rights and hold those who harmed you accountable. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at 716-500-5678.
