The New York herald., 1922-07-08
NEW POLICY FAILS
TO DELAY BUILDERS
Time Occupied in Insuring
Workmen Separately Only
Slightly Longer.

The superintendents of buildings In
the five boroughs met yesterday to dis
cuss with a representative of the Corpo-
ration Counsels Office the amendments
to the building laws affecting worSn ems
compensation. Before they adjourned
the new form of application for permits.
drawn UP and offered by Charles Brady,
superintendent for Manhattan, was
adopted for that borough and accepted
as the mose efficient and comprehensive
form that the other boroughs could
adopt.
The amendment does away with the
old blanket affidavit that all men en-
ployed in construction work are pro-
tected by compensation insurance. Un-
der the new plan the general contractor
and all the subcontractors file affidavits
that their individual employees on the
operation are protected by policies taken
out by them individually.
ANY suggestion that the amendment
which went into effect July 1, would
have a tendency to rctard The actua,
building industry was secuted by the
superintendents. A member of the firm
Of George A. Fuller Company declared
that the new requirements would not
slow down operations. He said that The
old blanket insurance was obtainel by
the general contractor by merely ask
ing his insurance broker to make out
the required policy.
Instead of one man or one firm doing
this now, he said. number of men or
firms would be required to do 1t. In
asmuch as II takes broker but a
couple of hours longer to issue num-
ber of policies. and granting that there
might be as many brokers involved as
there are sub-contractors, little If any
time would be lost.
Under the amended law the old blanket
assurance that all men engaged In
hazardous occupation in the building
industry are protected by general
compensation insurance policy Is abol-
ished. Now the principal contractor
makes affidavit that those men actually
employed by him are covered by in
demnity insurance. Every sub-con-
tractor makes similar affidavit. In brief
the building departments in the several
boroughs issue no permit to the gen.
eral contractor nor to any sub-contrac-
tor or, in short, for any operation by
any employer Of construction labor, until
1t is satisfied that separate insurance
policies have been obtained and there
will be no disagreement between the
general contractor and any one Of his
sub-contractors II worker on the pay
roll Of the latter is injured.
1t is pointed out that even II there
is some slight delay due. to increased
clerical work In obtaining permits under
the amended law, the worker gains by
having much Of the delay eliminated in
the collection of his compensation after
sustaining injury There have been
cases. 1t was said yesterday. when the
delay between the time the employee
was injured and the time he received
compensation worked a most unfair
hardship upon him and his family. The
new amendment cuts out much red tape
and does away with much debating and
argument.
That particular paragraph in the
amendment that deals directly with this
phase of the subject reads:
THE head Of a State or municipal
department, board. commission or office
authorized or required by law to issue
any permit for or in connection with
any work involving the employment Of
employees in a hazardous employment
defined by this chapter. and notwith-
standing any general or special statute
requiring or authorizing the issue of
such permits. shall not issue such permit
to the employer unless such employer
shall produce satisfactory proof that
compensation has been secured as pro-
vided by this chapter"