The role of New York in OSHA compliance:

As industrialization grew, it became apparent early in the 20th century that workplace safety regulations were necessary. OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards throughout the United States. Workers in New York are protected by following these federal standards.

However, NYC has gone further by adopting additional rules to address construction hazards, such as Local Law 196, which significantly alters safety training across all five boroughs.

How New York is adapting to Occupational Safety and Health Jurisdiction: PESH and Federal OSHA

Through the PESH Act (Public Employee Safety and Health Act ), the health and safety regulations are extended to public sector employees in New York, which can be seen as one of 26 states with an official OSHA state plan. They include state, county, town or village government workers; school district workers; fire department workers. PESH adopts federal OSHA standards as well as state specific regulations, including:

• Workplace Violence Prevention (12 NYCRR Part 800.6)
• Emergency Escape and Self-Rescue Ropes for Firefighters (12 NYCRR Part 800.7)
• Permissible Exposure Limits (12 NYCRR Part 800.5)
• Right-to-Know/Toxic Substances Education (12 NYCRR Part 820)

The PESH Bureau in the New York Department of Labor manages enforcement under DOSH, so that tailored safety regulations complement federal OSHA standards.

Local Law 196: The NYC-Specific Safety Standard

Local Law 1960 was passed in response to the alarming increase in construction-related injuries and fatalities in NYC. The aim is to reduce accidents by having workers trained, qualified, and informed about safety topics.

According to this law, the training requirements depend on your role on site:

• Workers on a construction site need to have a 40-Hour Site Safety Training (SST) card.
• There are 62 hours of SST training that are due to be completed by supervisors.

While considering its necessity, as it is a law. If workers do not meet these standards, then workers and supervisors are barred from entering job sites, and employers fined for failure to comply.

You will require some baseline training before you can get your full SST card. This can include either:

• OSHA 10-hour training.
• OSHA 30 – hour training program (mostly considered by supervisors or managers).

However, an additional SST card is required to fulfill the full hour requirements. To work in NY construction sites, you need to have this training and carry the SST card all the time.

Additional Law affecting safety sites: NY edition

Local Law 196 is the centerpiece, but it is supported by other important regulations that work together to make job sites safe. Following are the few sites;

• The NYC Building Code Chapter 33 stipulates the safety rules for people who are near the construction sites.
• The enforcement strategies are defined in the DOB SST Regulations that charge up to $5,000 per untrained worker as a fine.
• All projects over 10 stories high are required to submit a comprehensive Site Safety Plan (LL154).
• Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements affect who can work on publicly funded or large private work.

New York Labor Law §220-h requires that all workers on public construction sites receive safety training, in particular when the project is state funded.

What Exactly Are Proctored Courses?

Unlike other online training programs, a proctored course is beneficial because participation and progress will be monitored in real-time, either in the setting or through a webcam. This ensures that participants fulfill and complete all necessary requirements. 

According to the NY DOB, the only alternative for SST training is the proctored course, which means that self-monitored classes will not be considered OSHA-approved.

The following standards should be involved in the training to meet the requirements of DOB;

• Live webinars
• Recorded lessons along with the ID verification
• Proctoring through webcams

Start Your OSHA & SST Training Today

To make the job search smoother in construction sites or the general industry in New York, get your hands on the SST training to become a standout in the hiring process.

Here are the things you can focus now;

• Assess your current training status: Check whether you have already completed OSHA 10- or 30-hour training or obtained some SST credit.
• Select the certified DOB proctor: choosing a reliable and professional proctor is essential. 

Moreover, the following are the risks associated with non-compliance

• The job sites will directly decline your job application.
• This is considered a violation. Thus, employees will be charged around $15,000.
• Importantly, you risk your life by neglecting safety training. 

As per the NYC Department of Buildings, the death fatalities in construction sites rose 34%; thus, understanding the need to adopt safety strategies is essential to save the lives of employees and the reputation of industries.