The Buildings Department's Sixth Annual Construction Safety Week will run from April 26 to April 30, 2010. Events during the week will include construction site visits to discuss safety issues with workers, information seminars to review construction trends and specific operations and community meetings in all five boroughs. Last year, Construction Safety Week included 14 events with 25 different speakers and participation by more than 35 different groups and agencies.
As part of last year's safety week, the Department's inspectors, engineers, architects and administrative staff:
- Distributed more than 70 safety harnesses to scaffold workers in Brooklyn;
- Led presentations on new regulations for construction, demolition and abatement sites
- Reviewed new licensing requirements that better ensure safety and qualified workers
- Hosted information sessions for homeowners on resolving building violations and illegal conversions.
Commissioner LiMandri and senior staffers also visited several construction sites across the City to speak with workers about the importance of wearing their safety harnesses to prevent a fall. Eight of the 19 construction-related fatalities in 2008 were due to a worker falling.
Since 2005, Construction Safety Week has been a week-long series of events aimed at raising awareness about safe construction practices. Construction-related fatalities dropped 84% in 2009 when compared to 2008, and these events are a critical way to continue that trend. The combination of outreach events, educational seminars and community meetings during the week is designed to educate all groups affected by construction and increase the safety of neighborhoods throughout New York City.
If you would like participate in this year's Construction Safety Week or have proposals for events or topics, please email safetyweek@buildings.nyc.gov with your suggestions.