Local Law 196 completed its multi-year roll out in 2021. Here’s what NYC job sites can expect as they navigate this new legislation.
As one of the more inherently dangerous lines of work, it is no surprise that many states impose more stringent safety regulations within the construction industry. One recent example is Local Law 196, which is setting a new standard for safety on construction sites in New York City.
Local Law 196 was passed in 2017 to curtail the rising number of work-related injuries and fatalities occurring on New York City job sites. Enforced by the New York Department of Buildings (DOB) across all five boroughs, the law standardizes stricter safety training requirements for workers, supervisors, and permit holders.
Workers must earn a Worker Site Safety Training (SST) Card, which requires at least 40 hours of mandated safety training.
Workers who were already employed prior to the rollout of Local Law 196 were required to complete their 40 hours of training by December of 2019. These trainings include:
New workers are required to complete their first 10-hour OSHA course prior to their first day on a job site. The additional 30 hours of training required to obtain their SST card must be completed within 6 months of their start date. These trainings include:
Supervisors must earn a Supervisor Site Safety Training Card, which requires at least 62 hours of required safety training. These trainings include:
Permit holders on job sites must keep accurate records of daily worker attendance, which includes verifying that each worker who enters the site is able to provide proof of their completed trainings in the form of a valid SST or OSHA card.
All NYC-based job sites with a Site Safety Plan are required to meet the requirements outlined in Local Law 196. If your jobsite has designated a Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager, your site falls into this category. You can see a full listing of active impacted sites here on the NYC.gov website.
Site owners and contractors will be asked to verify that their workers have earned their SST cards during the permit application process. The DOB will also conduct surprise inspections to verify that the training requirements have been met, and to ensure that site owners are maintaining proper records, which should include a log of daily attendance, as well as proof that each worker has completed their mandated safety training.
Sites that are unable to provide the above referenced documentation upon request by the DOB will be subject to a $2,500 fine. If upon further investigation it is discovered that workers on-site lack the proper safety training credentials, the site owner, permit holder, and employer will be issued a $5,000 fine for each untrained worker. Those workers, however, must remain employed with full compensation until their training hours have been completed and they have earned their SST card.
With construction markets around the world monitoring how the legislation’s increased safety measures impact key safety metrics, Local Law 196 has the potential to shape the future of construction on a global scale. If Local Law 196 meaningfully improves safety on construction sites here in New York City, we can expect to see similar legislation passed in more jurisdictions, not just here in the U.S., but also abroad.
While the passage of Local Law 196 places additional responsibilities on the shoulders of site owners and permit holders, the accidents mitigated, injuries prevented, and lives saved are well worth the additional efforts.
With a partner like Odin in your corner, you can easily implement these new safety measures with confidence. Our platform helps automate compliance by storing all worker records and activity digitally. Here’s how our integrated system works:
Tell us a little about your project and we’ll send you a personalized invitation to try Odin for yourself.
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