It’s far too often as New Yorkers that we open the newspaper to see another headline of a tragic construction accident in our City. Thankfully, efforts are being made by local government to make these headlines a thing of the past. The Construction Safety Act, announced in January of this year by New York City Speaker Mark-Viverito, Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Jumaane Williams and Council members has been approved by Mayor Bill de Blasio and is composed of fourteen bills, designed to prevent workplace accidents, increase transparency and generally advocate for the rights of construction workers around New York City.

The new laws include:

• Intro. 1435-A: Certain cranes will need to be equipped with data-logging equipment to record work conditions and operations.
• Intro. 1421-A: The DOB will need to be informed when certain cranes are moved off or on a worksite, or the cranes will need to be fitted with locating devices, like a GPS.
• Intro. 1446-A: Class-B hoisting machine operators will be required to receive a license rating in order to use certain cranes.
• Intro. 1448-A: Contractors will be required to keep construction superintendents on major projects working on buildings that are four stories or higher.
• Intro. 1433-A: The DOB will be required to list incidents that occurred on construction sites online.
• Intro. 81-A: The Department of Buildings (DOB) will be required to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of any Construction Code violations potentially endangering the safety of workers.
• Intro. 1324-A: The Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) will be required to post information about New York City contractors and contracts online.
• Intro. 1271-A: Vendors will be required to digitally submit their information to VENDEX.
• Intro. 1224-A: Vendors will be required to fill out questionnaires for a greater number of contracts.
• Intro. 1254-A: It will be required to send information about college savings plans home with preschool students, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will be required to send this information to families within three months of the birth of a child.
• Intro. 1311-A: The Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to notify the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and New York City Police Department (NYPD) about resurfacing.
• Intro. 891-A: Businesses now that the option to be notified of 311 complaints issued for their building’s address via email or text.

The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny has over a combined century of experience in dealing with personal injury lawsuits and has achieved over nine figures in verdicts and settlements, proving their success rate in the courtroom. Contact the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny today to figure out your next steps and speak with an attorney who cares.