Edgar Pazmino, of the Bronx, and another worker were using the forklift to transport a bundle of windows for storage at a former parking garage on 89th Avenue.
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Around 11 a.m., Pazmino was reportedly standing on the back of the forklift as it was being driven by the other worker when his head hit a low-clearance ceiling in the garage.
Pazmino, an immigrant from Ecuador, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
"He was a great friend, very joyous and funny person who was a very hard worker," said a friend, Steven Ruiz.
The project is under an active stop-work order, but that does not prohibit workers from storing materials on site.
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A partial stop work order was issued in September when concrete sitting on plywood collapsed and a worker fell from the eighth to the seventh floor.
The Buildings Department has issued a violation for failure to safeguard the construction site and will take additional enforcement actions once this new investigation is wrapped up.
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