Opinion
July 14, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Mordue, J.
Present — Lawton, J.P., Wesley, Doerr, Davis and Boehm, JJ.
Order unanimously affirmed with costs. Memorandum: Partial summary judgment was properly awarded to plaintiff on the issue of defendant's liability pursuant to Labor Law § 240 (1). Plaintiff fell 30 feet from the roof of a building on a site owned by defendant. It is undisputed that there were no safety nets or other safety devices in the area where plaintiff fell. Although safety nets were present in other areas, the mere presence of safety devices on the site does not discharge defendant's duty ( see, Zimmer v. Chemung County Performing Arts, 65 N.Y.2d 513, 514, rearg denied 65 N.Y.2d 1054; Adams v. Cimato Bros., 207 A.D.2d 997, 997-998; Neville v. Deters, 175 A.D.2d 597). Defendant further contends that plaintiff was instructed by his supervisor not to work in any areas where safety nets were not present and to place safety nets in an area before proceeding to work there. The mere failure by plaintiff to follow safety instructions does not render plaintiff a recalcitrant worker ( see, Stolt v. General Foods Corp., 81 N.Y.2d 918, 920; Hagins v State of New York, 81 N.Y.2d 921, 922). Moreover, plaintiff is not required to guarantee his own safety by placing appropriate safety devices in a proper manner ( see, Heath v. Soloff Constr., 107 A.D.2d 507, 510-511; see also, Haystrand v. County of Ontario, 207 A.D.2d 978).