In response to a rising number of construction-related injuries and fatalities in 2017, New York passed a law requiring worksites to have a construction site safety plan, safety coordinator/manger, or a construction superintendent, as well as proof that all workers have completed a minimum level of construction worker safety training. 

If you have construction workers or supervisors on major construction or demolition projects with a Construction Site Safety Plan in any of New York’s five boroughs, Local Law 196 of 2017 requires special training you need to be aware of for employers to be OSHA compliant: 

• All construction workers must complete 40 hours of Construction Site Safety Training and have an SST Worker Card.
• All construction supervisors must complete 62 hours of SST Supervisor Training and have an SST Supervisor Card. 
  

Roles That Require Compliance 

Regardless of whether they’re a general contractor or subcontractor, this law applies. While some roles are exempt from Construction Site Safety Training, the following roles require it on NY worksites as of March 1, 2021: 

• Construction workers 
• Demolition workers 
• Concrete Safety Managers 
• Construction Superintendents 
• Competent Persons 
• Site Safety Managers 
• Site Safety Coordinators 
• Journeypersons 
• Forepersons 
• Employees of DOB licensees or registrants 
  

If you’re unsure whether the new training requirements apply to certain construction workers or construction supervisors on your worksite or have additional questions, you can reach out to the DOB at LocalLaw196@buildings-nyc.gov for more details. 

Training & SST Card Tracking 

The OSHA Education Center allows training to be completed 100% online in order to receive official SST cards. They also accept training certificates from any DOB-approved course provider. 

The DOB requires all permit holders to maintain a daily log that lists all construction workers, demolition workers, construction supervisors, and proof of their completed safety training. The SST cards will act as valid proof of SST training while on New York worksites. Without valid proof, employers won’t be able to allow construction workers and construction supervisors to enter a worksite and they could face steep fines for non-compliance. Without accurate record keeping, OSHA inspectors may presume that all workers are non-compliant. 

One convenient way to help track SST compliance is with worker profiles created in the Eyrus Platform. Along with other trackable attributes like certifications, emergency contacts, and mass text messaging, you can track SST training compliance across all construction workers and construction supervisors in one place. To see how easy it can be, contact the Eyrus team here, or reach out to KnowMore@eyrus.com to schedule a demo.