Local Law 78 Injury Reporting

Local Law 78 was issued in 2017 to create new guidelines for injury reporting on construction sites, in an effort to increase job site safety.  The Department of Buildings recently issued a reminder regarding this requirement. The purpose of the law is to expand the requirement for injury reporting beyond just construction workers, to also include passersby.  Property owners, contractors, subcontractors or persons otherwise in control of a construction site must submit an Injury/Fatality Incident Information Form when any of the following incidents occur:

  • Fatality to any individual, including a member of the general public or a construction worker.
  • Injury to any individual, including a member of the general public or a construction worker, that requires transport by emergency medical services or requires immediate emergency care at a hospital or offsite medical clinic.

Failure to submit the details of the incident to the DOB within (3) business days, will result in a $2,500 civil penalty.  Local Law 78 also increased civil penalties for DOB-ECB (Environmental Control Board) violations and for unlicensed work.  Below is a list of these changes.

DOB-ECB Violations:

  • Hazardous: up to $25,000, $1000 for each day not corrected
  • Major Violations: up to $10,000, $250 for each day not corrected
  • Lesser Violations: up to $500

Unlicensed Work:

  • Master plumbers: $2,500 first violation, $5,000 second violation
  • Mater fire suppression: $2,500 first violation, $5,000 second violation

For the full NYC DOB Reminder, click here.

For the full Local Law 78 of 2017, click here.