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Creating a new “culture of accountability” is why work at 322 construction sites—and counting—across five boroughs has been shut down over risky conditions, the New York City buildings department chief told ENR on Wednesday. The Dept. of Buildings began new “zero tolerance” safety sweeps on June 1. According to DOB press releases, the crackdown is in response to seven construction deaths so far this year, with three of those happening within two weeks in May.The DOB on Monday also released a new construction safety report, studying what happened between 2018 and 2020 that led to fatal or near fatal outcomes. The analysis is the first of its kind, department commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca said, adding she hopes the report will be issued annually.
“We are creating a culture of accountability,” she said, claiming the ongoing sweeps will help contractors understand the reason for a dedicated supervisor on site.
“It means more dedicated personnel on more sites,” the commissioner said. “Increasing supervision and dedicated supervision is critical in moving this industry forward.”
The sites closed so far have been shut down with full and partial stop-work orders citing more than 1,129 violations for safety issues and code non-compliance issues, according to the DOB. During the sweeps, DOB inspectors issue enforcement actions on safety violations and shut down sites that show serious safety lapses. Contractors in violation face penalties of up to $25,000 for each violation.
“Every contractor should feel obligated to make sure their workers go home safe and go home safe to their families,” La Rocca said.
Among 2021’s deaths so far are a 32-year-old Queens resident who fell down an elevator shaft while working May 22 on the sixth floor of a Long Island City building; and a 49-year-old Brooklyn construction worker who fell off the roof of a Flatbush bank and died May 27.According to the DOB’s new report, 1,097 construction workers have been injured in the past two years.
Other findings:
- In 2019, there were 595 construction-related injuries, compared to 761 reported in 2018.
- Also in 2019, 12 construction related deaths were reported, the same number as in 2018.
- In 2020, there were 502 injuries on construction sites and seven building construction site deaths.
La Rocca said the figures, which include a 34% decrease in injuries between 2018 and 2020, indicated that workers are safer where site safety training is ongoing.
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