In the wake of two deadly crane accidents since March, New York City's construction industry on last week announced the formation of an independent organization to promote safety on work sites across the five boroughs, Crain's New York Business reports.
The 17-member New York City Construction Industry Safety Council will be composed of contractors, the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York, the Real Estate Board of New York and trade associations representing the construction industry, the report said. The council is aimed at getting industry leaders together to share safety procedures and expertise.
"Development cannot take place at the expense of public safety, and it's going to take the industry's cooperation to make construction sites safer," acting building commissioner Robert LiMandri said in a statement. "The formation of the NYC Construction Industry Safety Council is a step toward that end, and I look forward to real results that raise the safety standards on jobsites.”
The new group will be funded by its members, who so far have raised $500,000 to get it started.
The council's formation comes as the city's Buildings Department prepares to propose a series of crane regulations focused on maintenance and repair records. The City Council is also considering comprehensive construction-safety legislation, according to Crain's.
The safety council's first task will be to establish a tower crane maintenance database that contractors will be able to consult before renting equipment. The group will also research safety practices being used across the country and around the world and urge governmental agencies to adopt safety standards that all contractors should follow. For the first time, the group will bring contractors together to share safety information with each other.
Click here for the complete Crain's New York Business article.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
