IRISH construction workers are speaking out against the dangers of the job and the necessary precautions that should be put in place to prevent future deaths after several high profile incidents in New York City involving construction deaths and injuries. Gary Maher is a carpenter from Kilkenny and now lives in Woodlawn in the Bronx. He said that it was an "awful and sad tragedy" that happened in the city two weeks ago when Shane McEvoy from Cavan fell 35 feet to his death, a death that could have been prevented if he had been wearing a safety harness. "I think it really hit home with Irish lads, especially in Woodlawn that you have to be safe all the time on site," said Maher. "It's in your own best interest anyway."David Martin, also a carpenter from Roscommon but living in Queens for some years, feels that Irish construction workers are generally safer anyway, especially the workers who are not in the country that long. "Lots of lads are used to working at home where there is fierce strict safety regulations, so when they come out here they know that they need to be safe," he said.Martin feels that in Ireland work on the sites is done at a quicker pace and lads still manage to tog out in the correct protective gear, be it safety shoes on site, or safety harnesses while climbing heights. "Here things are done slower so lads have more time and are more aware of their safety," he added. Kieran Bergin, from Co. Tipperary works with Martin and Maher, and said he disagrees with Martin's views on the speed of work in this country. "I would say it is the opposite. Here I think you are pushed to get things done quicker," said Bergin, alluding to the reason why accidents are so prevalent in the U.S., and New York specifically. "Out here if you don't ask for something you won't get it so you can't be shy about your safety," Bergin added.James Purcell from Offaly warns young construction workers who are arriving at JFK Airport on a daily basis because the construction boom in Ireland has nosedived to "take care of themselves." "Make sure to get the safety stuff you need," he added. Bergin feels because many Irishmen working in the construction industry in New York are undocumented and working on non-union jobs safety is not a priority and getting the job finished on time is. "Some lads would be even afraid to ask for safety glasses or things like that because they know they are illegal and they don't want to cause any trouble because their job is important to them," said Bergin.Although all of the men interviewed are carpenters, they did say that if a situation arose where they would be required to work on heights or in a compromising safety position, they wouldn't think twice about demanding safety harnesses or whatever safety precaution necessary to prevent an accident or even death. "I'm a bit long in the tooth for that now," said Maher.Mick O'Brien, originally from Tipperary and now living in Connecticut, oversees 20 workers on a residential job on East 46th Street. O'Brien, who said that although most of their work is carpentry, said it is still necessary to make sure that the equipment is in proper working order to prevent any possible accidents. O'Brien feels that so many accidents are occurring in New York in the construction business because there is very little health and safety. Comparing it to Ireland, he described it as a "disgrace." "When things are needed to be done quickly, people take risks unfortunately, but you should really know going up on a scaffolding that you should wear a safety harness." In Ireland, construction workers are required to wear construction boots, helmets, and visibility jackets. "Here," explains O'Brien, "you'll see none of that. It's not enforced so people don't wear them."He continued, "It definitely hit home to the Irish community last week with the death of that young lad from Woodlawn but there is a lot of Spanish lads getting killed every week and there isn't a word about it."O'Brien feels that the Irish companies running jobs in New York are impeccable when it comes to lessening the risk of accidents. "Think about all the Irish companies that are around the place," said O'Brien. "We never hear of accidents or deaths in these companies because a lot of Irish lads have common sense."