Bloomberg Praises New Laws For Local Construction Safety – NY1

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Monday that construction sites across the five boroughs are getting safer, and he credited a series of new laws. NY1’s Grace Rauh filed the following report.

2008 was a bad year for construction safety, as two cranes collapsed that year, leaving nine people dead and 28 injured.

In the wake of those tragic events, the city rolled out a series of new construction safety laws, ones that Mayor Michael Bloomberg says are working.

“Nothing is more important than keeping safe,” the mayor said on Monday in Long Island City, Queens.

Construction-related accidents dropped by 18 percent last year. There were 128 accidents in 2011, down from 157 in 2010. Injuries also dropped as well.

Officials said the new construction laws are responsible for the improvements.

Smoking is now banned at all construction sites and tower crane workers must be specially trained. Sprinkler systems are also regularly tested to ensure they are working properly.

Many developers are supportive of the changes.

“The fact of the matter is we all have a common agenda, and that is to build in this city and build safely and avoid accidents and avoid tragic deaths,” said Steve Spinola of the Real Estate Board of New York.

The mayor stressed the city is not afraid to enforce the rules.

“We will close down jobs if it’s dangerous, plain and simple,” said Bloomberg.

Unfortunately, the good news did not extend to construction-related deaths. There were five people killed on construction sites in 2011, up from four the year before.