Mayor Announces Construction Safety Reforms

Legislation Will Transform Buildings Department Oversight of Construction Sites and Expand Enforcement Powers

Mayor Bloomberg and city officials, with the support of construction developers, contractors and organized labor, announced an aggressive legislative agenda that will equip the Buildings Department with additional oversight and enforcement powers to further the safety of New Yorkers and construction workers. Last week a crane collapsed on the Upper East Side.

The centerpiece of this comprehensive safety agenda focuses on the highest-risk construction operations by requiring new oversight of general contractors and concrete and demolition operations. Once enacted, the legislation announced today would make it mandatory for all general contractors and concrete and demolition subcontractors to obtain a safety control number through the Buildings Department before conducting any work that requires a permit. Contractors with unacceptable safety records will have their safety control number suspended or revoked, halting them from doing business if they repeatedly violate the law and put New Yorkers at risk

"The industry has an obligation to work with the Mayor to do everything that is humanly possible to protect the public and our own construction workers," said Steve Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. "The steps announced by the Mayor today will have an immediate and long term impact as it relates to construction safety. The tragic recent events demand our full support for additional training, accountability and professional oversight when necessary."

For complete legislation agenda: press release