Firefighters worked quickly to free the men and get them to the hospital. One who was critically injured later died at Coney Island Hospital. His name was not immediately released.
The other two workers pulled from the rubble remained in the hospital Tuesday night. A fourth worker and a firefighter suffered minor injuries.
The apartment building was under construction and four stories tall before it's collapse, authorities said.
Buildings Department spokesman Tony Sclafani says inspectors would return to the scene on Wednesday to investigate the cause and whether improper procedures played a role in the collapse. He says work permits were issued in July, 2011 and that there were no open violations.
