ConDig (11-Aug-17).  The Construction Safety Advisory Committee of New York (CSACNY) has blasted what it describes as the “rampant” use of fraudulent safety training cards that are putting construction workers at risk of injury and death.

CSACNY President Jim Bifulco said that he believes on some New York job sites up to 50% of workers can have fraudulent training cards, adding that the fake cards have cost the lives of over 30 construction workers in the last 2 years alone.

The comments come as a investigative report by the New York City Public Advocate found that fake safety cards are in widespread use throughout the city’s construction industry.

Public Advocate Letitia James called on the city to designate an agency that will require registration of all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-authorized trainers and help workers to identify responsible trainers by providing a list of them on its website.

“Our investigation found that fraud, lack of oversight, and shortage of inspectors are contributing to record numbers of fatalities and injuries. We simply must implement policies that prioritize the safety of our workers,” she said.

CSACNY has also called for an electronic training registry that would enable employers, onsite safety supervisors, and NYC Department of Buildings inspectors to efficiently confirm the training of every worker.

“An online registry supported by technology, such as a QR code on a worker’s training card, would enable employers, supervisors and inspectors to quickly scan the card and confirm whether or not a worker has valid, up-to-date safety training,” Bifulco said.

“This kind of registry would enable workers to easily prove their training status at every job site, and save employers time and money by ensuring they can confirm a worker’s training is valid. Most importantly, the registry would prevent untrained workers from entering job sites and ultimately save lives.”

In April, the New York City Council passed a wide-ranging construction safety bill that requires contractors to publish a full list of deaths and injuries on sites.

Under the bill, contractors will have now have to report details including the type of injury occurred on site, how long the worker has been on the job and whether they were unionized.

Companies that fail to report deaths could be hit with fines up to $25,000.