NYC Training Requirement Another Hurdle to Finding Labor

Although safety is a critically important issue on job sites, a training requirement from New York City makes the pressing issue of finding labor more difficult - not only from a talent perspective but from a funding perspective. The program will partially rely on employers for financing.

Construction Safety is talked about constantly. There are many construction companies that take it very seriously. There are also many that don’t. All will say it’s their top priority.

So what can a city do that’s facing regular worker deaths and increases in workplace injuries? New York City has decided to require extensive safety training for all of the 185,000 construction workers in the city.

After worker injuries increased from 526 to 622 over the previous year, New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio recently approved a new law, Int-1447, which will require workers to receive a minimum of 10 hours of safety training by March 1, 2018 and an additional 30-45 hours of training by December 1, 2018. Of the additional hours, 8 must consist of “safeguarding against the dangers posed by falling workers and objects.” Periodic refresher courses will also be required. If found not in compliance, construction companies can be fined up to $25,000.