NO SMOKING IS BEST

The Department of Buildings has issued more than 1,000 violations for illegal smoking at construction sites throughout the City. The new citywide enforcement initiative began last September as another way to improve safety on construction sites and prevent hazardous conditions.

As of September 17, the Department's construction units have issued a total of 1,009 ECB violations to contractors for failing to post no-smoking signs, evidence of smoking refuse and workers smoking. The members of the Buildings Enforcement Safety Team ( BEST ) issued 417 smoking violations in the past year, the most of any DOB unit.

The most violations were issued in Manhattan with 475, followed by Brooklyn with 261, Queens with 158, the Bronx with 84 and Staten Island with 31. As a result, more than $2 million in penalties has been imposed. In June 2009, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed two laws that prohibit smoking on construction sites and prohibit tobacco, lighters, and matches at asbestos abatement work sites.

These laws stem from the 33 recommendations of the Working Group convened by Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler to increase safety at construction, demolition and abatement sites following the tragic fire at 130 Liberty St. in Manhattan. A discarded cigarette ignited the August 2007 fire that led to the death of two New York City firefighters.