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Dive brief:
- The City of Boston will require it building and demolition permit applications present safety plans, hold safety meetings and appoint safety coordinators to protect workers and the public. Called the Safe Construction and Demolition Operations Ordinance, the regulation comes into effect on December 1.
- The new requirement gives the Boston Department of Inspectional Services the authority to enforce safety measures, issue violations and impose fines on non-compliant parties, and also involves extensive training and informational resources for interested parties .
- The announcement follows the signing of Boston’s new mayor, Michelle Wu Construction safety ordinance on June 1, which aimed to strengthen enforcement and improve security measures after a series of accidents in the construction works of the city.
Diving knowledge:
The ordinance gives ISD the enforcement ability to issue violations, stop work, revoke permits and impose fines of up to $300 on permit holders, developers, general contractors, construction managers and subcontractors who fail to comply with the ordinance .
Along with this increased enforcement capacity, the City of Boston will also provide training, tools and resources to ensure successful enforcement of the ordinance. To do so, the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, a government agency tasked with improving Boston’s workforce, will host a webinar series to inform license applicants and contractors about the requirements and compliance with the ordinance from 6-7pm on November 14th and 29th.
The cabinet will also provide free 30-hour OSHA health and safety training for site safety coordinators to ensure they have the necessary credentials, and will also provide resources to educate workers about their rights, including how to exercise them and how to file a complaint about non-compliant employers.
Boston’s ordinance mirrors efforts in other US cities
The new ordinance signifies Boston’s increased commitment to reducing construction-related injuries. Construction works in the city counted almost 30% of workplace fatalities in 2021.
With this ordinance, Boston now aligns itself with other major cities dedicated to ensuring the safety of workers during construction and demolition projects.
For example, in New York City, local law 196 requires workers to complete OSHA training, while Los Angeles has implemented its own safety standards in construction, such as requiring safety plans and workplace inspections. Chicago has made similar moves to improve safety and compliance in constructionwhile other cities also have their own set of safety guidelines and regulations for construction and demolition projects.
