Harness Doubts in Worker Death at New York City Hotel Tower

A New York city official says it appears that a construction worker who plummeted to his death from the 10th floor of a hotel under construction in Manhattan was not wearing a harness as required.

Buildings Department spokeswoman Kate Lindquist says the agency issued eight safety violations against the builder and four others to subcontractors. A stop-work order was also issued.

Police say 28-year-old Anthony Paino fell Wednesday morning about 11:15 a.m. at the Gansevoort Park Hotel and landed on scaffolding.

A spokesman for the site’s general contractor for the project says Paino was supposed to be working on a column at the edge of the building, but inside guardrails.

The Buildings Department says that there have been two construction-related fatalities so far this year.