For Immediate Release
November 2, 2006

MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT AND OSHA ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF A
SCAFFOLD WORKER SAFETY TASK FORCE

Deputy Mayors Carol Robles-Roman and Daniel Doctoroff, Buildings Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster, FAIA and Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Guillermo Linares, today announced the creation of a Scaffold Worker Safety Task Force.

In recent months there has been an increased number of accidents and fatalities involving individuals working on scaffolds throughout the City. To address growing concerns about the safety of workers on hanging scaffolds throughout the five boroughs, the Task Force will bring together public and private sector stakeholders. The Task Force will be chaired by Commissioner Lancaster and will establish a set of recommendations on outreach, training, oversight and enforcement. The Task Force will also evaluate policy and legislative reforms. Comprised of New York City, State, and Federal government officials, representatives from community-based organizations, construction industry trade organizations and CUNY the Task Force is charged with presenting recommendations to the Deputy Mayors in December.

"During this time of historic growth in the City, new construction combined with regulatory compliance schedules has resulted in an increase in new construction jobs," said Deputy Mayor Robles-Roman. "Ensuring the safety of all scaffold workers and avoiding dangerous conditions and fatalities, requires us to work closely with the Federal government, labor and industry, and community-based organizations serving immigrant and limited English proficient workers. The recommendations of this Task Force will lay the foundation to ensuring that these goals are met."

"Now more than ever, with construction and development in the City happening at unprecedented levels, it is essential that we educate and protect the New Yorkers who work every day to build and maintain our infrastructure," said Deputy Mayor Doctoroff.

"One fatality in our City is one too many," said Commissioner Lancaster. "This Task Force will allow all of the stakeholders to put our heads together to address this critical issue. It's important that we step forward and ensure that everyone in the industry - from the scaffold worker on the rig to his manager - understands all of the existing requirements and abides by them."

"Many hard working immigrants come to this country in search of a better life," said Commissioner Guillermo Linares. "Our Administration is committed to protecting workers' rights and their health and safety. Providing greater language access at construction sites and finding alternative ways of reaching the most vulnerable is a priority of the Task Force."

"Falls are a leading cause of construction fatalities-we have been working with the public and private sectors to eliminate scaffold incidents," said Richard Mendelson, Manhattan Area Director for the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "We look forward to working even more closely with City agencies, employers and workers-through both outreach and enforcement efforts-to end these tragic occurrences."

The Task Force members include:

• Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster, Department of Buildings, Task Force Chair
• City Council Member Erik Martin Dilan, Chair, Housing & Buildings Committee
• Commissioner Guillermo Linares, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
• Rich Mendelson, Area Director, Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA)
• Edward Malloy, President, Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC)
• Louis Coletti, President and CEO, Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA)
• Marolyn Davenport, Executive Vice President, Real Estate Board of NY (REBNY)
• Peter Fontanes, National Chair and Founder, New York Chapter of the National Association of Hispanics in Real Estate and Construction (HREC)
• Oscar Paredes, Executive Director, Latin American Workers Project
• Reverend Terry A. Troia, Executive Director, Project Hospitality
• Michael McCann, Director of Safety and Ergonomics, Center to Protect Worker's Rights
• Sonia Ivany, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
• Roberta McGowan, Executive Director, Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater New York (BOMA)
• Nick LaPorte, Executive Director, Association of Builders and Owners (ABO)
• Jonathan Hosgrove, Director of Public Projects, Brick Layers & Allied Trades, Local 1
• Jack Kittle, Political Director, Painters & Allied Trades, DC9
• John Delgado, Business Agent, Construction & General Building Laborers, Local 79
• Martin Daley, Director, Carpenters Labor Technical College, NYC District Council of Carpenters
• Sam Bailey, Business Manager, Timbermen, Local 1536
• Jim Mahoney, Business Agent, Iron Workers Local 580
• Eddie George, Organizer, Iron Workers District Council
• Kevin O'Callaghan, President, Hoisting and Scaffolding Trades Association
• Ken Buettner, Director, Hoisting and Scaffolding Trades Association (HOSTA)
• Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director, NY Immigration Coalition
• Nancy Clark, Assistant Commissioner, Environmental Disease Prevention, DOH
• Mark Pulsfort and Dawn Zanichelli, Contractors' Association of Greater New York (on behalf of Ray McGuire)
• Dr. Russell Hotzler, President, New York City College of Technology
• Kevin Dillon, NYS Department of Labor

Contact:   Evelyn Erskine (Office of the Mayor): (212) 788-2958

The New York City Department of Buildings ensures the safe and lawful use of buildings and properties by enforcing the Building Code and Zoning Resolution. We facilitate compliant development with integrity, efficiency and professionalism.