New York City’s regulation that requires contractors to hire independent safety inspectors for job sites is holding up projects worth millions of dollars, contractors say. The problem: not enough inspectors to go around.
Architect Howard Zimmerman told the New York Post that the city’s construction industry is in a boom cycle and projects have been halted because of a shortage of inspectors. He said that his firm has 20 projects worth millions on hold until safety inspectors can be made available.
Some in the construction industry are asking the city to change the site inspector requirement. Inspectors must be on site to check safety equipment for all buildings over 15 stories tall. The dearth of qualified inspectors has gotten so bad that two construction firms were recently hit with criminal charges for hiring hairdressers and cooks to pose as licensed professionals.
One proposal is to undo code changes created in 2008 that added the safety inspector requirement to restoration projects. Previously they were only needed on new construction.
(http://nypost.com/2014/08/25/construction-industry-petitions-for-changes-in-safety-regulations/)
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jan 6, 2017
OSHA prompts more proactive approach to construction site safety
Remote operated camera systems are being used to mitigate risk in real time.
Codes and Standards | Jan 5, 2017
2018 building energy code upholds efficiency gains
Efforts to scale back efficiency requirements largely defeated.
Codes and Standards | Jan 4, 2017
Low-income housing doesn’t lower neighborhood housing values
A Trulia study contradicts longstanding fears.
Codes and Standards | Jan 3, 2017
Intelligent transportation systems have implications for designers, construction firms
Sensors and Internet of Things devices will have to be embedded in infrastructure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 15, 2016
OSHA releases safety recommendation guide for construction industry
It is said to be most helpful to small and mid-sized contractors.
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Cities must invest $375 billion to avoid catastrophic global climate change
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group advocates low carbon infrastructure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Resilient construction techniques pay for themselves over lifetime of buildings
Spending $340,000 for resiliency would pay for itself over the lifetime of a $10 million structure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 12, 2016
Dept. of Energy launches program to advance zero energy school design
Six school districts and two states are among the first to mainstream zero energy schools.
Codes and Standards | Dec 9, 2016
California city’s plan for net zero building includes net zero water usage
Santa Monica city services building aims for highest level of sustainability.
Codes and Standards | Dec 8, 2016
WELL and BREEAM to align standards
The goal is to make it easier for projects pursuing both standards.