NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) announced on June 28, the release of a new building construction safety report that officials said provides deep insights on construction safety trends in New York City. Based on data compiled during 2019 and 2020, the report examines various DOB “proactive and data-driven initiatives” which officials said led to declines in construction-related incidents and injuries.

More generally, officials said the report also highlights what they described as critical department units, changes in construction safety regulations, and recent efforts to modernize the agency.

In addition, the department also released a progress update on ongoing enforcement inspection sweeps taking place at larger construction sites across the five boroughs, an initiative officials said was launched in response to recent construction fatalities that occurred earlier this year.

Buildings commissioner, Melanie E. La Rocca, said that knowledge is power, and that the analysis in the report can help the construction industry keep workers safe from hazardous site conditions.  “We know that a data-driven approach and strong enforcement 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 put at unnecessary risk,” she said.

The two-year report delves into DOB data on enforcement actions, incidents, and inspections to provide a deeper look at the factors impacting construction safety in New York City. With an eye on preventing future incidents from occurring, officials said the report puts forward a detailed analysis of the where, when, what, and how of construction-related fatalities and injuries taking place in the city.

During 2019, officials said they collated the following data:

• 595 construction-related injuries in New York City on building work sites, down over 21% from the 761 construction-related injuries in 2018 and;
• twelve building construction-related fatalities, the same amount of fatalities that they saw in 2018.

Meanwhile, over the course of 2020, DOB officials said they collated the following data:

• 502 construction-related injuries in New York City on building work sites, down over 15% from the 595 construction-related injuries in 2019 and;
• eight building construction-related fatalities, down from twelve fatalities that they saw in 2019.

Officials said the decline in construction-related incidents, beginning in 2019, was the first such decrease in almost ten years, and said it coincided with changes in DOB regulations, including mandatory site safety training for workers on larger work sites, and new proactive construction inspection protocols at the DOB.

As above, the report examines these recent initiatives, as well as others which DOB officials said have also contributed to safer construction sites, including the implementation of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, spearheading new construction safety legislation, and what was described as vigorous industry engagement.

In response to a recent spate of tragic construction-related fatalities that occurred earlier this year, DOB said it mobilized teams of construction inspectors across the five boroughs to perform “Zero Tolerance” safety sweeps of the city’s larger and more complex construction sites.

During these inspections, DOB officials said the inspectors specifically looked to ensure permitted construction projects were in full compliance with their required site safety plans, that workers on site were properly using safety harnesses, where required, and that any controlled access zones at the sites were properly secured to prevent falls. The department’s “Zero Tolerance” safety sweeps are ongoing.

Since the sweeps started on June 1, 2021, the department said it has already:

• conducted “Zero Tolerance” safety inspections at over 2,100 of NYC’s larger and more complex building construction sites;
• shut down work at 322 of these construction sites with Full and Partial Stop Work Orders, due to hazardous conditions and;
• issued over 1,129 violations for safety issues and code non-compliance issues at these work sites.

Edwin Lopez, executive secretary of the New York Electrical Contractors Association, said the association commended the department for publishing the report. “As union electrical contractors, working in New York City, we support and encourage all efforts to promote job site and worker safety. We look forward to working with the Department of Buildings to implement future legislative pursuits,” he said.

Others who also provided positive feedback on the report were council member and chair of the Council Committee on Housing and Buildings, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Empire State Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, REBNY, BOMA New York, Construction Safety Advisory Committee of New York, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, New York City Special Riggers Association, The Plumbing Foundation City of New York, Inc., The Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York, Inc. (ACP), National Elevator Industry, Inc., New York State Society of Professional Engineers, American Council Of Engineering Companies of New York, the Building Trades Employers Association, Associated General Contractors NYS, Council Member Mark Gjonaj and other members of the City Council, and Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.

Gjonaj said transparency and good data would provide assurances on the best way to identify best work site practices to minimize incident risk, and create a safer city as it heads into post pandemic economic recovery which he said would no doubt include major construction.

Meanwhile, LaBarbera said, “This comprehensive report makes clear that construction accidents can be prevented by deploying strategies that enhance site safety awareness, establish rigorous health and safety protocols, and ensure all construction workers receive robust worksite safety training.”

He added, “Through fully understanding what works when it comes to keeping workers safe, the industry can ensure that all contractors are held accountable for operating responsible worksites and make certain that safety is the number one priority on construction projects across the five boroughs. We applaud the New York City Department of Buildings for their continued focus on the safety of workers, and we look forward to continuing to partner with DOB to ensure this welcome progress continues.”

Read the 2019-2020 Construction Safety Report