1 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY |

THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY | 2

ANALYSIS OF CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS (2010 – 2015)

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CONSTRUCTION RELATED ACCIDENT REPORTS

• In 2008, DOB enacted rule changes that made construction accident reporting more comprehensive

• DOB reports have far higher level of detail compared to OSHA records

• OSHA reports workplace accidents only, omitting pedestrian and/or bystander accidents

Monthly Accident Details

OSHA Reports:

1. Company, City, State, Zip Code

2. Victim

3. Fatality or Catastrophe

4. Inspection Number

DOB Reports:

1. Borough

2. Address

3. EOC Final Description

4. DOB Action

5. ECB Violation Number

6. DOB Violation Number

7. Permit Type

8. Permit Number

9. Incident Type

10. Owner's Name

11. Contractors Name

Date Fatality/Incident

Description

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4 5 8 3 8 12

163 152

187 195

237

472

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Fatalities Injuries

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS BY YEAR (2010 – 2015)

As construction increases, accidents increase:

• Over 6 years, there were 1,446 accidents on 738 unique sites, resulting in 40 fatalities

6,895 8,936

10,599

18,095 20,329

56,248

Housing Units Permitted

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CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY BY BUILDING SIZE (2010 – 2015)

Number of Floors

NB & ALT-1 BUILDING PERMITS BY FLOORS

94%

Per

mit

s

37,319

1,504 722 246 0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

1 - 9 10 - 19 20 - 39 40 +

94%

• Buildings under 10 stories account for 94% of all major construction permits

• 1 - 5 story buildings account for 86% of all new construction permits

1-5 story

buildings

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FATALITIES BY TYPE AND BUILDING SIZE (2010 – 2015)

Number of Floors

FATALITIES BY TYPE FATALITIES BY FLOORS

30

4 5

1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1-9 10-19 20-39 40+

75%

• 92% of all fatalities are fall-related (worker or material)

• 75% of fatalities occurred on buildings under 10 stories

• 1 - 5 story buildings account for 60% of all fatalities

65%

27%

5%

3%

Worker Fell

Material Fell

Excavation / Soil Work

Mechanical ConstructionEquipment

1-5 story

buildings

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Number of Floors

Vio

lati

on

s

DOB ACTION FOR CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS BY FLOOR (2010 – 2015)

43% more likely to get a safety violation on smaller projects (under 10 stories) when there is an accident

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1-9 10-19 20-39 40+

DOB Violation Issued

No DOB Violation Issued

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DOB ACTION BY ACCIDENT TYPE AND BUILDING SIZE (2010 – 2015)

UNDER 10 STORIES 10 or MORE STORIES

When there is an accident, smaller projects are:

• 51% more likely to get a safety violation for workers falling

• 24% more likely to get a safety violation for materials falling

• Almost 2 times more likely (170%) to get a safety violation for excavation/soil work

20.7%

14.1%

3.3%

1.4%

1.6%

0.2%

6.8%

25.6%

18.4%

4.0%

1.9%

2.8%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Other

Worker Fell

Material Fell

Scaffold/ Shed / Fence / Shoring Installation

Mechanical Construction Equipment

Excavation / Soil Work

Violation No Violation

27.1%

20.2%

7.6%

1.5%

1.2%

0.7%

7.3%

14.6%

12.3%

3.4%

3.7%

0.3%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

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STEPS TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

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SAFETY STEPS FOR ALL PROJECTS

1) Require the use of 60” guardrail systems for all unprotected shaftways, and require full perimeter floor-to-ceiling netting on all New Building and exposed Alt-1 projects, excluding LL11 façade work

2) Prohibit the use of any type of personal electronic media device for social or entertainment purposes outside of designated areas

3) Require documented training for all workers on New Building construction projects with ID and training certification verification on at least the following topics:

a. OSHA 10 Construction

b. Supported Scaffold 4 hour

c. Fall Protection Training

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SAFETY STEPS FOR ALL PROJECTS

4) Require safety orientations for all new hires detailing site-specific safety procedures, requirements and logistics, and an overview of current construction activities

5) Require documented safety pre-task plan meetings for hazardous operations and extraordinary activities with general contractors and construction managers and all high risk trades on New Building construction projects

6) Require the creation of site safety plans for all New Building construction projects

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REGULATORY RECOMMENDATION FOR DOB

7) Provide more funding to hire more DOB staff to:

I. Improve DOB’s ability to handle its increasing workload; and

II. Create an inspection squad focused on the worst violators

13 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY |

THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY