Health & Safety Newsletter - Q1 2026 (Jan – Mar) - New York City District Council of Carpenters

Message from the Health Safety Coordinator

Dear Members,

Safety is not simply a regulatory requirement, it is the foundation of everything we do. Each day our members step onto a job site, they carry with them the knowledge, skill, and commitment that makes New York City’s construction industry the safest it has ever been. And yet, our work is never finished.

This newsletter covers Q1 2026, January through March, and brings you the most current updates from the NYC Department of Buildings, OSHA, the Fire Department of New York, and MTA Construction Development. You will also find upcoming events and important service announcements.

Please take a moment to review the regulatory changes, enforcement trends, and upcoming events. If you have questions or want to discuss any topic further, my door is always open.

Stay safe, stay vigilant.

Fraternally,

Thomas Scanlon
Health Safety Coordinator / Instructor / CSSS / STSC / CHST
NYC District Council of Carpenters Training Center
Tel: 212.727.2224

New York City Department of Buildings

SST Course Provider Update

Please note that ClickSafety and 360 Training have been approved again for select DOB SST Courses. To monitor the status of all SST providers, you can view the full approved provider list here.

Q1 2026 — Incident, Fatality Service Updates

January 2026 — Incident Fatality Summary

Fatalities

Incidents

267

Stop Work Orders

1,014

Violations

DOB reported no construction-related fatalities in January 2026, down from two in the same period in 2025 — a positive start to the year. DOB recorded 28 incidents in January, matching December 2025 levels, down notably from previous peaks in the 40s and 50s. This decline is attributed to ongoing cooperation with industry partners.

February 2026 — Incident Fatality Summary

Fatality

Incidents

237

Stop Work Orders

1,190

Violations

DOB reported one construction-related fatality in February 2026, compared to three at the same point last year. Improper use of mechanical equipment has now surpassed falls as the primary incident driver — DOB advised contractors to include manufacturer specifications for mechanical tools in pre-shift meetings.

Sidewalk Shed Permit Reminder:

All sidewalk shed permits issued or renewed on or after February 2, 2026 expire every 90 days and will no longer auto-renew in DOB NOW. Manual renewal within 90 days is required.

DOB Press Releases

Enforcement Bulletins

Service Updates — February March 2026

Cranes & Derricks: No inspections will be performed on 2026 holiday weekends.
Reporting Construction Cost in DOB NOW: Beginning February 2, 2026, applicants may report the estimated job cost of the entire project on the Initial filing in DOB NOW.
Loft Board Requests in DOB NOW: Starting February 2, 2026, Loft Board requests will be submitted in DOB NOW: Build.
Fee Updates: Beginning February 2, 2026, fee calculations will be updated for Alt-CO, new Full Demolition filings, and AHV permits.
Green Roof PTA — March 30, 2026: Requests for NY State Property Tax Abatement for a Green Roof will now be submitted in DOB NOW: Build. The PTA3 paper form is no longer required.
2025 NYC Energy Conservation Code: Effective March 30, 2026, new job filings and projects involving historic buildings must comply with the 2025 NYCECC.

Occupational Safety Health Administration

Q1 2026 Updates

OSHA reminded contractors that 300A injury and illness summary logs are required to be posted at job sites from February 1 through April 30, 2026. The deadline for electronic submission through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) at osha.gov is March 2, 2026.
OSHA launched the Safety Champions program, a self-guided, three-step resource on osha.gov designed to assist employers in building their safety and health management systems. Employers can register directly through the OSHA homepage.
A new “OSHA Cares” poster is now accessible on the osha.gov homepage. Although replacing existing posters is not mandatory, it underlines the importance of ensuring workers and employers return home safely every day.
🚧 Looking Ahead — National Work Zone Awareness Week: April 20–24, 2026. OSHA has observed an increase in struck-by incidents during delivery and unloading activities. Reinforce site-entry protocols, spotting procedures, and delivery zone safety at your project.

Fire Department of New York

Q1 2026 Inspections Advisories

January 2026 — Inspections

173

30-Day Inspections

419

CDA Permit Inspections

592

Total Inspections

January inspections exceeded the six-to-seven month average of approximately 500 inspections per month, despite being lower than December 2025’s 664 inspections.

February 2026 — Inspections

243

30-Day Inspections

347

CDA Permit Inspections

324

CDA Approvals

A 40% increase in 30-day safety inspections from January, covering all five boroughs. Of 243 inspections: 160 approved, 38 confirmed major construction completion, 25 faced no-access due to DOB stop work orders, and 20 resulted in violations for improper storage or missing permits.

FDNY observed a rise in permit activity in Staten Island, including NYC DEP water treatment projects and Governor’s Island, along with increasing permit requests for the Hudson River Tunnel project.

Advisories New Requirements

Post-Winter Standpipe Advisory: As temperatures rise, FDNY recommends inspecting standpipe systems for freeze damage, leaks, or burst pipes before relying on them for fire protection.
Lithium Battery Fire Extinguishers (Class L): Class L extinguishers are not yet mandated at construction sites. Code development efforts are planned for 2026. Contractors should continue limiting the charging and storage of lithium batteries on site.
G98 Certificate of Fitness — New Requirement: Contractors submitting permit requests must now provide the G98 Certificate of Fitness alongside the F60 and G60 certificates for torch work and tasks involving flammable compressed gases.
Hot Work Fire Advisory — 6 E. 43rd Street: A recent hot-work fire highlights that valid permits do not eliminate danger. A riser control valve remained shut after maintenance, delaying suppression. Contractors must ensure all standpipe valves are fully reopened immediately after finishing work.

MTA Construction Development

Q1 2026 Safety Performance

January 2026

Total Incidents

−57%

Recordable Incidents vs 2025

MTA reported a total of 23 incidents in January 2026. Compared to January 2025, lost-time incidents remained roughly the same, but recordable incidents dropped by 57% — a notable improvement.

Primary Incident Drivers — January

Struck-by and struck-against events accounted for the majority of both lost-time and recordable incidents.
Additional contributors: slips, trips and falls; strains and sprains; caught-in-between hazards.
General safety and housekeeping was the leading non-compliant observation, followed by fire prevention, fall protection, and supervision. Ladder misuse and improper placement also contributed.

February 2026

Worker Incidents

−44%

Lost-Time vs Feb 2025

−71%

Recordable vs Feb 2025

1,017

Inspections

MTA completed 1,017 inspections in February: 342 internal and 675 external. Year-to-date (January–February): 2,114 inspections conducted. The primary driver for lost-time cases was sprains and strains, followed by slips, trips, and falls, and struck-by incidents.

🔍 Non-Compliance Trend: General safety and housekeeping remained the most frequently cited category in February, with a 13% increase over January. Fire prevention and protection rose 34%, and both protection and supervision increased by 30%.

Communication & Events

Job Openings

NYCHA Occupational Health Specialist

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) seeks an Occupational Health Specialist to review and evaluate NYCHA work sites and procedures to ensure they meet all applicable regulations. The role involves investigating occupational health and safety complaints and workplace injuries, following standard protocols to establish facts, and recommending corrective actions.

View Job Posting →

Upcoming Events

APR 20–24
National Work Zone Awareness Week
OSHA initiative — Reinforce delivery zone safety, spotting procedures site-entry protocols

APR 29
Memorial Mass — Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
3:30 PM hardhat procession · 4:00 PM Mass — Honoring workers killed or injured in 2025 early 2026. Workers, families industry partners welcome.

FEB 1–APR 30
OSHA 300A Log Posting Period
Injury illness summary logs must be posted at job sites — ITA electronic submission deadline: March 2, 2026

MAR30
DOB NOW Updates Take Effect
2025 NYCECC compliance required for new filings · Updated L2 Form required for civil penalty waivers · Green Roof PTA requests move to DOB NOW

Health & Safety Newsletter – Q1 2026 (Jan – Mar)