NYC Sanitation Worker Dies After Falling Into Wood Chipper

The incident happened on Tuesday morning in Queens, according to the city's Sanitation Department.

The tragedy occurred in the Queens neighborhood of Howard Beach, where the worker, who has not yet been identified, was operating a wood chipper.

The circumstances surrounding the accident are still under investigation, but according to the Sanitation Department, the worker fell into the machine's hopper while it was in operation.

The worker was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New York Police Department.

The Sanitation Department has expressed its condolences to the worker's family and friends and has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim," said Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson.

"We are committed to ensuring the safety of our workers and are working with the NYPD to investigate this incident thoroughly."

The incident has prompted Mayor Eric Adams to order a review of the city's wood chipper safety protocols.

Adams said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the worker's death and that he had directed the Sanitation Department to "immediately review" its safety procedures.

"The safety of our city workers is paramount, and we will take all necessary steps to prevent future tragedies," said Adams.

The Sanitation Department has a fleet of more than 2,000 wood chippers, which are used to grind up tree branches and other debris.

The machines are typically operated by a single worker, who feeds the material into the hopper.

The hopper is then closed, and the machine grinds the material into small pieces.

The city has not reported any prior incidents of workers falling into wood chippers.