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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 371-08
September 22, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR CRANE OPERATIONS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The final three bills before me today require additional safety training for workers performing crane operations and builds upon recent efforts to reform the Buildings Department and strengthen oversight and enforcement of the construction industry. We detailed our strategy for doing that during our June 4th construction site safety announcement with Speaker Quinn and industry leaders.

"Introductory Number 794-A sponsored in conjunction with the Administration by Council members Lappin, Comrie, Gentile, James, Koppell, Monserrate, Nelson, Palma, Recchia, Seabrook, Stewart, Weprin, Gerson, Jackson, Dickens, White, Liu, Garodnick and Mealy requires training for tower and climber crane workers and riggers.

"Introductory Number 794-A requires workers engaged in the erection, jumping, climbing, rigging or dismantling of a tower or climber crane to complete a thirty-hour Buildings Department approved course and an eight-hour refresher course every three years. Introductory Number 794-A also strengthens the requirements for those persons applying for a riggers license.

"Introductory Number 796-A sponsored in conjunction with the Administration by Council members Lappin, Comrie, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koppell, Monserrate, Nelson, Palma, Recchia, Seabrook, Stewart, Weprin, Dickens, White, Mealy and Sears requires a safety coordination meeting be held and that a detailed plan be submitted to the Buildings Department prior to the erection, jumping, climbing, rigging or dismantling of a tower or climber crane.

"Introductory Number 796-A requires the general contractor to hold a safety coordination meeting with all responsible parties to review the rigging to be used and the sequence of operations and procedures that will be followed during the installation and dismantling (including jumping) of tower cranes. Safety meetings must also be held before each subsequent jump to inspect the equipment, verify the training of all workers, and confirm the procedures and practices that will be followed. Notification of the safety coordination meeting and all safety meetings must be made to the Buildings Department at least 48 hours in advance of the meetings and a log of all meetings must be kept on site and available to the Department at all times. In addition, the crane engineer must submit plans and specifications to the Department prior to the erection, dismantling or jumping of a tower crane, inspect the crane installation prior to each jump, and certify to the Buildings Department that the crane is installed in accordance the approved plans and there are no hazardous conditions present.

"Introductory Number 795-A sponsored in conjunction with the Administration by Council members Lappin, Comrie, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koppell, Monserrate, Nelson, Palma, Recchia, Seabrook, Stewart, Weprin, Gerson, Dickens, White, Liu, Garodnick, Mealy and Sears ensures the proper use of nylon slings at construction sites.

"Introductory Number 795-A requires that nylon slings only be used in conjunction with climber or tower crane erection, jumping, climbing, and dismantling if the manufacturer's manual specifically states or recommends the use of nylon slings and if softening mechanisms have been applied to all sharp edges. Furthermore the use of discarded rope as a sling will now be prohibited.

"I would like to thank Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri and his staff for their work on these three bills. I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."







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