Deaths From New York Skyscrapers Prompt City to Plan New Rules - By David M. Levitt, Bloomberg.com
Two men fell to their deaths in the past three months during concrete operations. On Jan. 14, Yuriy Vanchitskiy died when freshly poured concrete on the 42nd floor of the Trump SoHo hotel and condominium tower in lower Manhattan gave way, city authorities said.
"At issue is the means and methods involved in concrete operations,'' Lancaster said in an e-mail. She said her department ``believes there is a need for legislative and non- legislative solutions'' to making concrete installation safer.
In testimony prepared for delivery to a New York City Council committee today, Lancaster proposed laws requiring registration of concrete contractors as well as "contractors for all types of construction work.''
The city will now require site safety managers for projects of 10 or more stories or 150 feet in height, instead of the current limit of at least 15 floors or 200 feet, she also said in the prepared remarks. Lancaster proposed requiring "concrete contractors to designate a concrete safety manager'' to monitor building methods."