What’s New
As we announced in our January 2023 newsletter, starting February 1, 2023, the NYC Department of Buildings began accepting only Site Safety Training (SST) cards that had been issued through the NYC DOB Training Connect platform. These SST cards are required for all construction and demolition workers on the larger and more complex work sites across the City, which are required by law to have site safety supervision. DOB will now begin enforcing this requirement for updated NYC DOB Training Connect SST ID Cards on March 18th, 2023.
Recent Projects
- Forensic engineering consultation regarding Labor Law 200, 240(1), and 241(6) claims, and supporting NYS Industrial Code Rule 23 provisions, regarding an incident involving the use of a drill on a ladder at a Queens, NY work site
- Expert witness testimony regarding the condition of a hospital loading dock where a worker was injured in Rockland County, NY
- Civil engineering consultation regarding the flow of runoff between adjacent residential properties located in Westchester County, NY
20 NYC Construction Workers Died on the Job in 2021, New Report Finds
On February 22nd The City reported that “twenty construction workers died on the job in New York City in 2021, a new report finds, with the pace of fatalities rising back to pre-pandemic levels after a year of industry shutdowns…In 2021, the rate in NYC was 11.2 per 100,000. That’s a 60% increase from 7 deaths per 100,000 in 2020 — the year that COVID began and construction slowed — when 13 workers died”…The group’s executive director, Charlene Obernauer, said the 60% death rate rise was “startling” and “significant.”…The report also points to staffing deficiencies for local and federal regulators, with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducting 2,568 inspections in New York State in 2021 — down 42% from 2019…Obernauer said routine inspections help ensure employers know that regulators are watching…“Whenever we see cuts to departments that are responsible for safety, we become worried that there will be fewer inspections, fewer enforcements, and as a result, there will be more injuries and more fatalities,” she said. “We want to make sure that the department is fully staffed so that it can do its job.”.
Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, as an OSHA certified Forensic Engineering consultant, and as a Past Chair of the National Society of Professional Engineers PE’s in Construction Interest Group, has helped to facilitate discussions between Professional Engineers across the country on important matters such as safety in both industry and construction. As a licensed Professional Engineer, State Certified Code Enforcement Official, and OSHA certified professional, Mr. Yarmus is credentialed to consult on site safety and incident investigation matters. Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with business owners, operations managers, property managers, real estate developers, builders, attorneys, contractors, insurance professionals, adjusters, and other related parties regarding site safety issues. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.
Researchers turn to foam panels to insulate old homes
On February 10th Canary Media reported that researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory say they’ve found a foam panel made by Dryvit that improves insulation and energy efficiency by as much as 75% in older homes. The panels can be installed quickly on the exteriors of homes built from brick, stone, or concrete before 1980, which number around 20 million.
Yarmus Engineering, P.C. makes it a priority to remain aware and knowledgeable of ongoing industry innovations and updates so that we can incorporate same into our designs and inform our clientele of any new information which might affect their properties and projects. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.