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
| Nov 18, 2011
New OSHA fall safety rule could save contractors money on insurance premiums
The new Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule requiring employers operating in the residential construction industry to use the same methods of fall protection that historically have been used in the commercial construction industry could save them money.
| Nov 18, 2011
Some believe new Austin building code will help mom and pop shops
Austin, Texas has proposed building codes that require wider sidewalks and call for buildings to be closer to sidewalks along a 3.5-mile stretch of highway.
| Nov 11, 2011
AIA: Engineered Brick + Masonry for Commercial Buildings
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Nov 10, 2011
WaterSense standard for weather-based irrigation controllers unveiled
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program has released a final specification for weather-based irrigation controllers—the first outdoor product category eligible to earn the WaterSense label.
| Nov 10, 2011
Advocate seeks noise reduction measures in California building codes
A former chief building inspector for San Francisco wants to enact building codes that would limit noise levels in restaurants and other spaces open to the public.
| Nov 10, 2011
California seismic codes spur flurry of hospital projects
New seismic requirements in California are helping to drive a flurry of new projects and retrofits in the state’s health care sector.
| Nov 10, 2011
Senate ready to repeal 3% withholding on government contracts
The U.S. Senate is set to approve legislation that would eliminate a law requiring federal, state, and local governments to withhold 3% of their payments to contractors and companies doing business with the government.
| Nov 10, 2011
New legislation aimed at improving energy efficiency in federal buildings
Recently introduced legislation, the “High-Performance Federal Buildings Act,” would help federal agencies save energy and money by improving building performance.
| Nov 4, 2011
CSI and ICC Evaluation Service agree to reference GreenFormat in ICC-ES Environmental Reports?
ICC-ES currently references CSI's MasterFormat and other formats in all of its evaluation reports. The MOU will add GreenFormat references.
| Nov 3, 2011
House Votes to Kill 3% Withholding Requirement; Senate Yet to Vote
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to repeal a 3% IRS withholding tax on businesses that do work for the government.