BCW Joins with Construction Industry Leaders in Letter to Governor Seeking Relief from Scaffold Law

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The letter stated that Labor Law 240 costs contractors billions every year in higher insurance premiums. Despite insurance prices that dwarf the national averages, most national insurers will not write policies in New York due to Labor Law 240. Only a handful of admitted carriers will write policies here at all, even as they cover contractors in every other state.

The letter also noted that in addition to saving the private sector billions, relief from the Scaffold Law would save the state hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars every year. The law is estimated to cost the state government over $750m annually. The massive savings on infrastructure, the state could save hundreds of millions in education dollars — the New York City School Construction estimates the Scaffold Law costs them over $200 million a year.

“We are not looking for a suspension of ANY of the safety provisions, just the unfair application of strict liability. The application of strict liability provides no safety benefit and has even been shown to be detrimental to worksite safety, read the letter. “New York is a challenging environment for construction in the best of times. Under these dire circumstances, many small contractors, including minority and women owned firms, face the very real possibility of closing their doors.”