In the wake of three construction accidents on Wednesday, Mayor Bloomberg met with officials from several city angencies to discuss worker safety. The result is a 28-member task force (including union reps, contractors and government officials) that is charged with delivering a set of recommendations to the mayor next month. Considering that 17 workers have already been killed at work sites around the city over the past year, Bloomberg’s move clearly comes embarrassingly late. Even if you throw money at the problem, you’ve got serious execution issues. Namely, an unhealthy mix of laziness, incompetence and lack of manpower (and, some would allege, corruption) at DOB. Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers’ Association may have the right idea when it comes to disciplining contractors who don’t play by the rules. Fines are not enough, he said. They should be put out of business.
Recent Accidents Prompt Worker Safety Meeting [NY1]
Construction Worker Falling Deaths Rise [NY Sun]
City Forms Task Force to Improve Worker Safety [NY Times]
Photo by Angela Jimenez for The New York Times