An Act relative to increased safety standards in the construction industry

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Bill S.2112

Notwithstanding any or special law to the contrary, the appropriate agencies of the commonwealth shall develop regulations to increase standards that address safety issues in the construction industry;

Area of review for regulations shall include but not be limited to the following:

Craft workers

• 40 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-huor refresher completed on an annual basis

Craft foreperson

• 62 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher competed on an annual bases

Site safety manager licensing

• For any project over 50,000 square feet a Site Safety Manager is required to be on-site at all times

• To be a site safety manager you must have:

(i) Minimum 5 years construction safety experience

(ii) 40 hours SSM course

(iii) Safety experience background check

(iv) Knowledge test: 80% correct to pass

(v)Physical exam for fitness

(vi) 3 year refresher

Concrete, steel, excavation, façade

• 62-hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher completed on an annual bases

Site safety and demolition plan review and enforcement

• Require major building and demolition projects to prepare and keep current a site safety plan. The plan, and subsequent updates, should be reviewed and approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and is required to be on site for inspector review

Scaffolding

• Minimum requirements for the design, permitting, erection, maintenance, and disassembly of supported and suspended scaffolds.

• Standards include stamped and filed drawings by a licenses design professional, use of licensed master rigger for erection and dismantling of suspended scaffolds, worker training, debris netting and scaffold access

Concrete formwork

• Minimum standards for the design, erection, and inspection of concrete formwork

• Site specific drawings to be prepared by registered design professional

• Engineered designs submitted for review/ approval and on site for inspectors

Protection of unenclosed perimeter façade

• Minimum requirements for perimeter protection prior to façade installation

• Permitted drawing by licensed design professional, requires vertical and horizontal safety netting or better to be installed and maintained at all unenclosed perimeters

Enhancement of sidewalk shed public protection

• Minimum standards for the design, permitting, erection, inspection, and maintenance of sidewalk shed including adjoining property protection

• Mandatory sidewalk sheds and site scaffolding for all projects in the Boston area

Inspection and enforcement

• Provide additional resources to inspection enforcement agencies to hold all General Contractors to elevated safety standards

• These city and state workers who have the authority to inspect project for safety compliance per the required documentation and permitting

Retain experienced inspectors

• Reclassify local building inspectors as Massachusetts public safety official to help retain experienced experts in high-risk Boston environments

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