Home » News » NYC closes 322 construction sites for dangerous conditions for its workers – NBC New York (47)

NYC closes 322 construction sites for dangerous conditions for its workers – NBC New York (47)

NEW YORKNew York City closed 322 construction sites due to hazardous conditions encountered during severe inspections by Department of Buildings (DOB) inspectors that began June 1 as part of “zero tolerance” security sweeps. the department announced Monday.

So far the department has conducted “zero tolerance” safety inspections at more than 2,100 of the building construction sites and has issued more than 1,129 violations for safety concerns and code non-compliance issues at these work sites. These inspections were in response to a recent series of construction-related fatalities that occurred earlier in the year and the DOB mobilized teams of construction inspectors in all five boroughs.

During these inspections, the inspectors sought to ensure that permitted construction projects were in compliance with required site safety plans, that site workers are properly using safety harnesses when necessary, and that any controlled access zones in the sites are properly secured to prevent falls.

“Construction fatalities are not acceptable. To prevent preventable fatalities, we need better information about construction sites and we must learn from our mistakes that put workers at risk. This new report does just that,” said Council Member Robert E Cornegy, Jr., Chairman of the Housing and Buildings Committee. “We live in an era of information overload, so as chair of the Housing and Buildings Committee, I am very pleased to see this detailed report provide clarity of knowledge. We are on our way to providing construction safety with care. you deserve. “

The results come as part of the publication of a new building construction safety report by the DOB that provides detailed information on construction safety trends in the five boroughs during the years 2019 and 2020 and examines the initiatives of the department that led to a decrease in building construction-related incidents and injuries during that time.

The report provides a first-of-its-kind analysis of the major building construction incidents in the past two years that led to fatal or serious accidents, with details on the contributing factors that precipitated these incidents. The report also highlights proactive and data-driven initiatives undertaken by the department, while publicizing the work of critical units in the department, changes to construction safety regulations, and recent efforts to modernize the agency.

“Knowledge is power, and the analysis in this report can help the construction industry keep its workers safe from dangerous site conditions,” said Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca. “We know that a data-driven approach and strong compliance protocols are necessary to keep all of our fellow New Yorkers safe. We simply cannot accept business as usual when workers and the public are taking unnecessary risk. “

The report delves into the department’s data on compliance actions, incidents, and inspections to provide a deeper insight into the factors affecting construction safety in New York City. With a view to preventing future incidents from occurring, the report presents a detailed analysis of the where, when, what and how of construction-related deaths and injuries occur in the city.

The report found that in 2019, unlike 2018, construction accidents decreased by 21% with 595 incidents reported. On the other hand, in 2020 compared to 2019 they fell by 15% when 502 incidents were reported.

This decrease in construction-related incidents, as of 2019, was the first such decrease in ten years and coincides with changes in DOB regulations, including mandatory site safety training for workers at construction sites. larger work and new proactive construction inspection protocols in the Department.

For its part, in reference to the deaths reported, in 2018 and 2019 12 deaths were reported each year, while in 2020 they dropped to 8.

“The health and safety of construction workers in New York City is critical. That is why I welcome this comprehensive report that highlights a more than 30 percent decrease in workplace injuries and deaths in 2019 and 2020. Through a rigorous, data-driven approach, including a With an emphasis on mandatory safety training, workplace inspections, legislation, industry involvement, and new Covid-19 health and safety protocols, the Department of Buildings (DOB) has been able to improve safety at construction sites. construction in all five boroughs, “said Councilmember Farah Louis.” This report highlights the very real and beneficial consequences of such an approach. It also helps ensure construction workers finish their shifts safely. “

See here the safety report that covers the years 2019 and 2020.

– .

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.