Homeland Safety firm offers training program for supers.

Homeland Safety, a training and consulting firm based in lower Manhattan, has announced a full program of courses designed to meet New York City's new ruling requiring safety training for all superintendents on projects less than 15 stories. The regulation is set to take effect on July 5, 2007.

The Department of Buildings (DOB) regulation aims, specifically, to increase safety precautions at low and mid-rise sites and, more generally, to address the overall rise in accidents at construction and demolition sites.

In 2006, twice as many workers were hurt in falling incidents from low-rise sites as from high rises. This statistic may be due, in part, to an inaccurate perception that dangers are lower at these sites.

As NYC Building Commissioner Patricia Lancaster noted in announcing the ruling: "New York City is known for its skyscrapers, [yet] we have increasingly seen accidents at low-rise sites.

"Regardless of building height, site supervisors will be held accountable to ensure that the necessary precautions are taken to protect the safety of the public and workers on the site."

The DOB addressed this issue in April when it initiated a program of weekly unannounced visits by a member of the Building Enforcement Safety Team (BEST Squad) at buildings between seven and 14 stories high.

Superintendent training is the next step being implemented to increase safety.

The Construction Superintendent Rule both requires safety training at low and mid-rise sites and introduces a registration requirement for anyone overseeing demolition or new construction of buildings of this size.

The construction superintendent at these low-rise sites must be registered according to various qualifications (see below), be available to the DOB at all times, engage in sound and code-compliant construction practices, and maintain a safe work site. To register as a construction superintendent:

* A New York State licensed professional engineer, registered architect or department certified site safety manager must have completed an approved seven-hour site safety manager course or a 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Standards course for the construction industry within the past three years;

* A Superintendent must have worked for five years as a construction superintendent and completed in the past three years an approved seven-hour Site Safety Manager course and a 10 hour OSHA course for the construction industry during the immediately preceding 10 years;

* A person must have five years or more of on-site experience in the construction industry during the immediate past 10 years as a carpenter, mason or inspector and have completed within the past three years an approved 40 hour site safety manager course and a 10-hour OSHA Construction industry Course.

In January of 2008, permits for demolition or construction of buildings less than 15 stories will be denied if a registered superintendent meeting the qualifications is not named on the project.

The sole exception is for the construction of one, two and three family houses which will be required to comply with the above in July of 2009.

Homeland Safety offers all classes required to comply with the new rule as it applies to low and mid-rise sites. In addition, Homeland is approved to teach many courses required by the DOB for current site safety managers, site safety manager candidates, master plumbers and fire suppression licensees. Required training for workers who assemble/dismantle scaffolding (32 hour) and workers who work on scaffolds (4 hour) is also available. Courses are offered in several languages including Spanish, Polish, Russian Cantonese and Mandarin. Homeland is also approved by the New York City Fire Department to conduct classes for Fire Safety Directors including training for the new position of Fire Safety/Emergency Action Plan Director.

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For more information, contact William Morelli at 212.344.1105 or email: [e-mail].