NYC To Start Tracking All Construction Deaths

The New York Department of Buildings could soon be posting a complete list of all construction deaths on its website.

Presently, some construction deaths are not recorded in city data. Only deaths involving violations of city construction code are included, while those involving federal workplace safety violations are not. Under a new law proposed by Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan), the DOB will be required to report on construction deaths even if they do not involve violations of city code, Crain's New York Business reports.

In the last two years, 33 construction workers died on the job in New York City. Construction is the most dangerous job in the city, producing more workplace fatalities than any other, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The department supports the intent of the bill and has proactively posted both its own data and Occupational and Safety and Health Administration data on its website, a spokesman for the Department of Buildings said.

In total, one-third of construction worker deaths in New York City were not counted in 2015. When construction worker Alton Louis died after collapsing at the affordable housing building site at 149 Kent Ave., now known as Fifth & Whythe, OSHA deemed his death work-related.

However, the site's owner, L+M Development Partners, did not need to disclose the death to any city agency. The death was neither investigated nor counted in DOB data.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's New York Newsletters
Related Stories

Snapchat Parent Snags 200K SF Sublease At Penn 2: The N.Y. Deal Sheet

Ken Griffin, Vornado Near Record $3.3B Loan For Park Avenue Supertall

Alexandria Warns $183M Loss On Table In Legal Battle Against NYC

Outside NYC, Building Officials See No Reason To Panic On Conversions

Jams Moving HQ To Times Square From New York Times Building

Rent Freeze Heightens Loss Risk For $506M CMBS Loan

How Long Island Projects Can Cut Through Red Tape And Community Opposition To Cross The Finish Line

Empire State Building Observation Deck Hemorrhaging Visitors, Value

Boca Raton's New Leaders Throwing 'All Kinds Of Curveballs' At Developers

Slate, Hudson Cos. Picked To Develop Massive Queens Housing Project

BXP's 343 Madison Lands $1.2B Loan, Nears Deal With Equity Partner

Mamdani Adds Millions To Program Helping Retailers Negotiate With Landlords