The New York City Council passed legislation from Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today to extend construction site safety training deadlines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling more workers to get the potentially life-saving training mandated by a law he previously enacted with Council Member Carlos Menchaca to mandate a minimum number of hours of safety training. The new bill passed today, Intro. 2059-A, was also co-sponsored by Council Member Menchaca and extends the deadline to receive this training through to March 1, 2021.
"Construction has always been one of the most dangerous jobs in New York City, with inadequate training and protection for the people who build our city," said the Public Advocate of the legislation. "Before the pandemic and throughout it, construction workers have been too often labelled as essential but treated as expendable - COVID-19 has changed the way training is administered, but not the reasons it is critical. By expanding the timeline and the opportunity for workers to access safety training, we can save lives and rebuild the eroding culture of safety in the industry."
"As we confront the pandemic and its economic aftermath, we need to protect construction workers, who in addition to having one of the deadliest jobs in our City, are struggling to meet training requirements that could determine whether they keep their jobs or not," said Council Member Carlos Menchaca. "I'm proud the Council voted unanimously to support unions and day labor organizations who represent these workers and ensure their and our collective safety."
This legislation comes as the Public Advocate is also requesting expanded and adapted training from the Department of Small Business Services. He has called for several immediate actions be taken to help ensure the safety of construction workers, essential workers, including adapting trainings that can be implemented in-person and online, making training cards more accessible to workers, and establishing further health guidelines, among others.