New York Local Law 196 Requires Site Safety Training for Workers
What does Local Law 196 in New York mean?
Growth and development in New York City are greatly supported by the construction industry. Still, it is among the most dangerous occupations for people. There have been many accidents and deaths at construction sites in the city throughout the years. To solve this major problem, New York City introduced Local Law 196 in 2017, which requires all construction and demolition workers and supervisors to complete Site Safety Training (SST) training. This law is designed to cut down on injuries at work by making sure every person on site is trained in safety.
This blog describes why Local Law 196 was created, who it covers, the training employees must get, the consequences for not following it, and why everyone should know about it.
What Local Law 196 Is Meant to Do
Local Law 196 is designed to increase safety at construction and demolition sites in New York City. The law was enacted because of a sharp rise in accidents and deaths on construction sites. According to the New York City Department of Buildings, In 2020, 13 construction workers died in NYC, and that made up 22% of all workplace fatalities.
Since the city was experiencing a construction boom, such an upward trend was not tolerable. Local Law 196 adds to OSHA rules by requiring workers and supervisors to be trained in detail about the dangers at the job site, safety plans, and emergency procedures before beginning work.
What Are the Groups Required to Follow Local Law 196?
Any worker or supervisor at a New York City job site with a Site Safety Plan is covered by Local Law 196. Such projects are usually bigger and riskier and the city has required that safety be overseen by a formal process.
People Covered by the Law Are
- Construction worker
- Site Safety Managers (SSM)
- Site Safety Coordinators (SSC)
- Superintendents in Construction
- Superintendents assign Competent Persons to these tasks
- Concrete Safety Managers (CSM)
Only these roles, like project managers, engineers, architects, and security officers, are exempt unless required to follow safety standards by the law.
What Do You Need to Know About Training Under Local Law 196
According to Local Law 196, training hours are set differently for different workers and their experience levels. To get an SST Worker card and enter a construction site, all workers must do 40 hours of training approved by the DOB.
People employed before December 1, 2019, can select one of two training courses.
- The first option is 40 hours of SST training.
- Option 2: Take the OSHA 10-Hour Outreach course and add an extra 30 hours of SST training
Anyone hired after December 1, 2019, for construction work, must first finish a 10-hour OSHA course. In six months, they must complete another 30 hours to reach the required 40 hours. Because of their extra duties, supervisors are expected to act with greater care. Anyone who wants an SST Supervisor card must complete 62 hours of training.
Examples of these courses are:
- Preventing falls
- Learning about drugs and alcohol
- Managing safety at the construction site
- Real safety
Training must be finished with a provider approved by the DOB and may also credit certain OSHA or previous safety courses taken within the past five years.
What Happens If You Don’t Follow the Rules
Local Law 196 imposes serious penalties for those who do not complete the required training. A valid Site Safety Training (SST) card is required for access to construction sites that demand it, so workers without it cannot do their jobs. To maintain compliance, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) carries out random inspections and may fine each untrained worker on the job up to $5,000.
Only the employer or site owner can be fined since workers are not held accountable. Repeating the same violations can cause the project to fall behind schedule, lead to stop-work orders, and result in lasting legal problems for construction companies and contractors.
What Makes Compliance Important
Ensuring workers are safe should be the top concern at all times on construction projects. Local Law 196 requires all workers to receive detailed, regular training about the hazards and how to prevent them. This law matters a lot for several reasons.
- Building projects rely on heavy equipment, dangerous situations, high places, and the need for several teams to cooperate.
- Proper training is essential, as missing it greatly raises the chances of accidents, injuries, and deaths.
- Both workers and employers are protected from facing expensive fines and losing their good reputation, thanks to the law.
- When safety training is done well, everyone on the team learns to be aware and responsible,e which helps every project stakeholder.
How to Begin
The first thing to do if you are a construction worker or supervisor in NYC is to check the DOB’s Site Safety Map to see if your site falls under Local Law 196. After that, choose an approved training provider to complete the required number of hours. Many educational centers, such as NYOSHA30.com, provide online courses that make SST training easy and quick to complete. Don’t forget that the goal is to work in safe places where all workers return home safely.
Conclusion
New York’s Local Law 196 aims to make construction site safety better across the city. The law ensures workers and supervisors get 40 and 62 hours of Site Safety Training to help them handle the risks found on building sites every day. Not following the rules can result in big fines and loss of site access, but it is most important because it puts workers in danger. For questions or clarifications, workers and employers can contact the NYC Department of Buildings at [email protected].
Having knowledge and being prepared is your greatest protection in the construction industry today. Start your safety training now and you’ll be helping to keep New York construction safe for everyone.
