ConDig (14-Apr-17).  The Construction Safety Advisory Committee of New York (CSACNY) has renewed calls for full time site safety professional on all construction projects below 10 stories following the death of a worker earlier this week.

Under current building codes in New York City, site safety officials are only required on buildings taller than 9 stories.

But CSACNY reiterated that the City Council, NY Mayor and Department of Buildings should review the code after Jose Cruz fell 18 feet from a building platform at 1604 Broadway in Times Square on Wednesday.

“Tragic accidents like the one that lead to the death of Jose Cruz on Wednesday are completely avoidable and have to end today,” said CSACNY president Jim Bifulco.

He added that enhanced training will also protect construction workers and prevent unnecessary accidents.

The Department of Buildings has reportedly issued a stop work order to the front of the project at1604 Broadway following the site fatality.

Streamline USA is the general contractor on the project and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) fined the company almost $20,000 last March for unsafe working conditions at the site, according to local reports.

Falls continue to be the leading cause of work-related deaths in construction, with OSHA reporting that falls accounted for four in 10 fatalities in 2014.

The agency has also rolled out measures aimed at tackling the problem and earlier this year unveiled a 78% increase in existing maximum civil penalties across the board to comply with a federally mandated rate rise.