Carlos, a 42-year-old union carpenter, was just a few hours into his shift on a Brooklyn affordable housing site when a scaffold platform collapsed beneath him. He fell two stories, suffered a fractured pelvis, and now faces months of recovery.
According to site logs, the day’s safety inspection had already been completed. But further investigation revealed the Site Safety Manager (SSM) hadn’t even visited the upper levels of the scaffold that morning.
Unfortunately, in 2025, Carlos’ story isn’t an isolated accident. Under New York City law, SSMs are responsible for daily safety inspections, hazard mitigation, and making sure all work complies with the City’s strict construction safety codes. Across New York City, construction workers are encountering increasing risks on job sites that are supposed to be protected by certified SSMs, but are they truly doing enough?
Recently, Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, has seen a concerning trend of injuries resulting from oversights that SSMs were legally obligated to prevent.
The following information addresses whether NYC Site Safety Managers are fulfilling their duties in 2025 and what you can do if they’re not.
What Are NYC Site Safety Managers Required to Do?
In New York City, Site Safety Managers are legally required on all major construction projects, including new buildings over 10 stories tall or over 125 feet, as well as excavation projects deeper than 20 feet. Their responsibilities are outlined under the Department of Buildings (DOB) regulations and include:
- Performing daily safety inspections
- Logging unsafe conditions and issuing corrections
- Verifying worker safety training under Local Law 196
- Ensuring proper use of fall protection, scaffolding, hoists, and rigging systems
The DOB outlines safety plan requirements that SSMs must implement and update, including inspection logs, injury reports, stop-work orders, and hazard reports.
Are Site Safety Managers Meeting Expectations in 2025?
Site Safety Managers are not always meeting expectations, and this has been more prevalent in recent years. Construction-related incidents are documented year-round through publicly available data on the NYC Open Data portal. This dataset tracks reports submitted to the Department of Buildings, including falls, collapses, equipment failures, and struck-by injuries.
While the data does not categorize incidents by site type or identify specific oversight failures, a review of recent entries shows that hazards like unsecured scaffolding, falling materials, and lack of fall protection appear frequently—issues that Site Safety Managers are tasked with monitoring. This steady volume of incidents underscores the importance of rigorous, on-the-ground safety enforcement.
Duties SSMs Are Expected to Fulfill Daily
Here are the specific tasks NYC Site Safety Managers are expected to perform according to DOB regulations. These should be happening every single day, but field investigations reveal they are often neglected:
- Conduct site walkthroughs, especially around scaffolding, excavations, and equipment
- Review and verify that workers possess valid SST (Site Safety Training) cards under Local Law 196
- Log all hazards, near-miss incidents, and corrective actions in the DOB-mandated Site Safety Log
- Stop work immediately when major violations are present (e.g., missing guardrails, blocked egress paths)
- Coordinate with the DOB and notify supervisors of any injuries or public safety risks
Why Safety Managers Are Struggling in 2025
Part of the issue is systemic. As NYC’s construction pace accelerates, safety managers are often stretched across multiple sites despite rules that require focus on one job site at a time. Inconsistent staffing and a shortage of certified managers also contribute to the problem. Of course, when inspections are superficial or skipped altogether, the safety system breaks down.
Moreover, SSMs can face direct or implied pressure from developers to avoid calling out violations that could lead to delays or shutdowns. In this environment, safety oversight becomes reactive rather than proactive, and otherwise preventable injuries happen as a result.
What to Do If You Were Hurt on a Construction Site in NYC
If you or someone you know was injured on a job site in New York City and you suspect site safety manager failures played a role, here’s what you should do:
- Report the incident to your foreman or employer immediately.
- Request a copy of the site’s Daily Safety Log, or ask your lawyer to obtain it.
- Seek medical care and keep detailed records of all treatments.
- Photograph or video the hazard that caused your injury (if you’re able).
- Speak to coworkers about any previous complaints or similar near misses.
- Contact a New York City construction accident attorney who can investigate whether SSM negligence occurred.
SSM logs, DOB filings, and permit documentation are often key to proving whether a safety manager ignored their legal obligations. At WRSMH, we use these documents and partner with site safety experts to build strong cases for injured workers.
We Hold Safety Managers and Developers Accountable
At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, we’ve recovered more than $2 billion for injured workers and their families. We regularly handle cases involving scaffolding failures, falls, crush injuries, and violations of New York’s Labor Laws §200, §240, and §241.
When safety managers sign their names for a job site inspection, workers have a right to expect that someone has actually looked out for their safety. If that didn’t happen and you were hurt, we’re ready to take action.
Call WRSMH today at (212) 986-7353 for a free consultation with a New York City scaffold injury lawyer. We can help you uncover the truth behind your accident and fight for the full compensation you deserve.