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For Immediate Release
May 3, 2019
CONTACT: dobcommunications@buildings.nyc.gov,
(212) 393-2126

DOB ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF APRIL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ENFORCEMENT SWEEP

New York, NY – Today, Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Thomas Fariello, R.A., announced the results of the agency’s coordinated citywide safety enforcement sweep of construction sites across New York City. Following the death of three construction workers in separate work-related accidents in early April, DOB dedicated 90 inspectors with a range of construction expertise to perform the sweep. The sweep was conducted from April 15 to April 27, with inspectors working 12-hour shifts and through the weekends. Inspectors visited 6,493 work sites across the five boroughs, exceeding the sweep’s initial goal of 5,000 inspections. During this operation, DOB issued stop-work orders at 322 construction sites with serious safety lapses. We issued 1,081 OATH/ECB violations during the sweep and distributed over 12,000 leaflets with construction safety information to workers, in an effort to promote awareness of proper site safety practices.

“In this latest enforcement sweep, a majority of the construction sites we inspected reflected a commitment to safety and were in full compliance with city laws and regulations,” said Acting Commissioner Fariello. “When we found unsafe conditions, we did not hesitate to shut those construction sites down and issue violations to those in charge, for the protection of both the workers on the site and the public. While I’m proud of our inspectors and encouraged by the results of this latest enforcement sweep, we can and will keep up the pressure for contractors to prioritize safety at construction sites in our city.”

In an effort to increase safety on our city's construction sites over the last few years, DOB has quadrupled penalties for the most serious safety violations, added more than 250 additional inspectors to our ranks, and required safety supervision for all major projects of four stories or greater. The Department is also implementing a first-of-its-kind safety training program for the city’s construction workforce, and is calling bad actors out publicly in monthly enforcement bulletins.

In 2019, there have been three building construction-related fatalities in New York City. These three accidents are still under active investigation by DOB, our partner agencies, and law enforcement.

New Yorkers who observe unsafe conditions on a construction site are encouraged to let the Department know about it by submitting a complaint through 311. All complaints made to DOB are anonymous and will be inspected. For more information about construction safety in New York City please visit our website.

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