Continuing the reform and modernization the City Council has pursued for the Department of Buildings (DOB), the council voted yesterday on legislation that will require either the commissioner or first deputy commissioner of the DOB be a licensed architect or engineer.

This change to the current law will allow for greater flexibility in choosing the person that will run the department, while still maintaining the technical expertise at a high level.

“We must cast the widest net possible when searching for the person that will lead our Department of Buildings,� said Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “It is critical that as the city works to modernize the department, and in the wake of an unprecedented building boom, we have the ability to choose between men and women that bring with them different knowledge and skills. This will allow us to address the increasing safety and enforcement concerns we have faced this past year while continuing the development within our five boroughs.�

The council also vote on two pieces of construction safety legislation:

• Concrete Site-Safety Manager — This will require that a concrete site-safety manager be designated and present on major building work sites when the work involves the minimum of pouring 2,000 cubic yards of concrete. Additionally, the DOB will be required to establish certification requirements for concrete site safety managers, which will include the satisfactory completion of a 30-hour course in construction safety approved by the DOB.

• Site-Safety Training Program —This will require that the construction site-safety plan must contain a statement that prior to performing any work, all workers must have completed, within the previous five calendar years, a 10-hour OSHA course in construction safety and health. Additionally, the plans must contain a statement that all workers on the site will receive a site-specific safety orientation.

“This year, we have seen far too many New Yorkers placed in harm’s way and far too much loss of life because of accidents on construction sites,� said Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Erik Martin-Dilan.

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