Bloomberg's Weak Attempt to Address Worker Safety
In response to mounting public pressure, Mayor Bloomberg made what was hopefully just a first step in addressing worker safety issues in the building industry yesterday. Among other measures, the city is earmarking $4 million to create a 10-man unit at the DOB focused on the scaffolding safety; another $2 million will go towards multi-lingual…
In response to mounting public pressure, Mayor Bloomberg made what was hopefully just a first step in addressing worker safety issues in the building industry yesterday. Among other measures, the city is earmarking $4 million to create a 10-man unit at the DOB focused on the scaffolding safety; another $2 million will go towards multi-lingual training and outreach for contractors and laborers. Joel A. Shufro, executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health and a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s task force, called the measures the first step in the right direction. He expressed skepticism that an extra 10 inspectors would have much impact on a city full of construction projects. We would have been happier if there had been criminal sanctions written into the law, Mr. Shufro said. We believe that nothing focuses employers’ attention better than the prospect of spending time in jail for not following safety precautions. Exactly right.
Bloomberg Adds Building Safety Measures [NY Times]
Photo by kroomis
Too little, too late, Mike.
Especially in light of the most recent worker’s death which could have been easily avoided.
Rather than focusing on scaffolding, how about the entire job-site inspection protocols being overhauled?
The fact an inspector can show up one one call, but fail to report blatant violations is a shameful reality of the current DOB procedures. We have seen it happen on multiple occasions.
Typical scenario:
“Working on a weekend 311 call is inspected, but the inspector fails to notate the lack of protective railings on the upper floors.”
Seems strange to be so complaint specific and myopic.
We’ve come full circle and become like British colonists.
It’s shameful. Our country’s downward spiral in the way we comport ourselves and conduct our business to extract maximum profit off the sweat and blood of exploited, “disposable” immigrant workers is embarrassing.
I see latino workers ALL THE TIME working in buildings in Park Slope with no masks, no gloves, no helmets, no protective gear provided for them at all. The law does not protect them if they get injured – our cleaning woman’s cousin fell a couple stories at a construction site and since the contractor said her cousin was an “independent worker” the contractor’s insurance didn’t have to cover her cousin’s extensive medical care at all. In fact some of the contractors don’t even bother to get insurance for workers, because they only hire “independent workers”. What kind of country is this??
most of the workers if not all have latino surnames not surprisingly…
shoddy designs, shoddy construction and shoddy oversight..
whats a few illegal mexican deaths anyway right?
i’m being very cynical here