The zero-tolerance sweeps followed three worker deaths in recent weeks, two of which were the result of falls. Increasing focus on safety issues like fall protection is a positive in the areas that require it, said Mike Elmendorf, president and CEO of the New York State chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.
“Where warranted, [work stoppages] are hard to argue with,” he said.
Nevertheless, stop work orders represent a tremendous cost to the project and the economy, Elmendorf said. “AGC NYS is working with DOB to ensure stop work orders are only written based on objective determinations of violations of such rules — particularly where the violations represent an imminent threat to the workers and the public.”
