WORKER SAFETY CONTINUES AS A MAJOR ISSUE

With the recent deaths of three construction workers in one week here in New York City, safety has once again vaulted to the forefront of construction issues that will impact day to day operations at STA member job sites.

With deadlines looming for the training of workers pursuant to Local Law 196, STA members should take all actions necessary to ensure that their management and line staff have the requisite hours of approved safety training.  Every STA contractor, should make certain that their supervisory personnel receive the required 62 hours of training and have a LSST training card by June 1, 2019.   In addition, all trade labor staff should have received the 30 hours of training and have been issued the LSST card or OSHA 30 card by this date.

In addition, STA contractors should also make sure that each jobsite must maintain a log of worker training cards.  The Department of Buildings (DOB) will bar any worker who does not have their card from working on a jobsite. DOB has indicated that they have added 90 Inspectors throughout the five boroughs to perform associated safety sweeps as a result of the recent construction deaths.

Penalties for noncompliance with these requirements will be severe.  The failure to have an LSST or OSHA 30 card may result in a fine of $5,000 to the owner, $5,000 to the construction managers or general contractors, and $5,000 to the subcontractor.

While there have been unofficial indications that the City Council might push back the date for the training requirements past June 1, there is very little certainty that this will happen.  Consequently, I urge all STA member contractors to do everything necessary to bring their businesses in compliance with the safety training requirements by the current June 1 deadline.  A failure to do so, could disrupted jobsites and stiff financial penalties.