Mayor Adams and DOB Commissioner Oddo Release Annual Construction Safety Report, Highlight Safest Building Construction Sites in 10 Years

April 25, 2025

Report Details Building Construction Safety Trends in 2024, 
Highlights 30 Percent Drop in Worker Injuries Compared to 2023 

  Construction Site Injuries Reached Nine-Year Low,  
Incidents Reached 10-Year Low, Fatalities Remained at 10-Year Low 

DOB Performed Over 416,000 Inspections in 2024, Highest Number on Record, 
Implemented New Construction Safety Initiatives 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo today released DOB's annual New York City Construction Safety Report, providing an analysis of building construction trends, safety incidents on construction sites, and enforcement actions by DOB in 2024. The report highlights the Adams administration's work to keep New Yorkers safe on building construction sites, specifically spotlighting that worker injuries dropped by 30 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, while construction-related incidents fell by 24 percent. With these positive trends towards safer construction sites, worker injuries reached a nine-year low and construction-related incidents reached a 10-year low; additionally, worker fatalities remained at a 10-year low. This historic progress follows multiple initiatives by DOB to protect New Yorkers working on construction sites, including new oversight mandates for construction superintendents, new licensing requirements for operators of smaller crane devices, new technology to help track work site safety compliance, and more. In 2024, DOB also conducted 416,290 total field inspections – the most inspections of building construction sites since the department began tracking the critical datapoint. Finally, the report underscores the ongoing strength of the building construction industry, with initial permits for new building projects increasing by over 24 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. The annual report is designed to provide greater transparency within both city government and the construction industry.

"New Yorkers deserve safe workplaces, and that includes our city's construction sites. Thanks to the hard work of DOB, we are making significant progress towards that goal, with inspections of construction sites at historic highs and incidents at a 10-year low," said Mayor Adams. "Nevertheless, we know that even one death at our construction sites is unacceptable, which is why our administration will continue to implement historic safety initiatives and keep up the fight for safer construction sites across the city."

"The progress we've made in reducing injuries and keeping fatalities at their lowest in close to a decade is a testament to the effectiveness of our safety initiatives, the decidedness of our inspection teams, and the buy-in from our industry partners," said DOB Commissioner Oddo. "We are not alone in believing that every fatality and injury that occurred in 2024 was preventable. We will keep pushing relentlessly for safer work sites because even one life lost is one too many."

The New York City Construction Safety Report draws upon a wealth of data collected by DOB throughout 2024. Data in the report show that over 98 percent of work sites did not report a single incident or injury in 2024. While incidents are exceedingly rare, the data shows that they can occur on work sites of any size and in every neighborhood across the city.

Construction-related incidents fell from 841 in 2023 to 638 in 2024, a 24 percent decrease year-over-year, while construction-related injuries fell from 692 in 2023 to 482 in 2024, a 30 percent decrease year-over-year. The report also draws specific attention to seven fatal construction worker incidents that occurred on building construction sites in 2024. While deaths on building construction sites have trended down in recent years, DOB remains committed to implementing new safety measures and driving fatality numbers as close to zero as possible.

10 Year Look Back at Construction-Related Incidents, Injuries, and Fatalities 

DOB regularly interacts with construction and development industry professionals through field inspections, enforcement actions, and educational outreach efforts. The report shows that DOB conducted 416,290 total inspections in 2024, the highest number of inspections on record in a calendar year. DOB also spearheaded several new safety initiatives in 2024 to increase compliance with existing regulations and improve safety outcomes. These include new oversight mandates for construction superintendents, new licensing requirements for operators of smaller crane devices and hoisting machines, and technological advances to track work site safety compliance.   

To spread the word about these new initiatives, DOB stepped up communications with the construction and development industry, issuing construction advisories directly to work sites to alert them to recent safety failure trends and scheduling regular sit-down meetings between industry groups and construction contractors to address safety concerns.

Finally, the report highlights increased construction activity in New York City throughout 2024, with total initial permits for new building projects increasing by over 24 percent compared to 2023. The 103,592 initial construction permits issued by DOB in 2024 is the highest in five years.

Thanks to recent improvements in DOB's digital infrastructure, the city can assemble granular data points from construction projects across the city, spot trends, and predict potential problems before they occur. DOB regularly utilizes this data to inform enforcement strategies and efficiently allocate resources across the city's 1.1 million buildings.

In 2025, DOB will establish a new enforcement unit to utilize this data and proactively inspect potentially dangerous buildings. The new unit, which was created with legislation from the New York City Council and $5 million from the Adams administration, will use predictive analytics to identify derelict buildings and unsafe contractors, prioritizing them for inspection to keep New Yorkers safe.

"The NYC Special Riggers Association (NYCSRA) applauds Mayor Adams and DOB Commissioner Oddo for taking the steps necessary to protect our workers and the public on and around the thousands of construction sites in New York City," said Veronika Sikorski, president, NYC Special Riggers Association. "The NYCSRA is proud to have worked on the passage of Local Law 196 of 2017, which set safety training standards for all construction workers and supervisors. Strict implementation of this and other safety laws continues to keep people safe, with construction-related incidents falling by 24 percent compared to 2023."

"Safety is the bedrock of everything we do in the construction industry. The 2024 DOB Construction Safety Report highlights the progress we continue to make in reducing construction-related injuries, continuing the downward trend we've seen over the last half-decade," said ABC Empire State Chapter President Brian Sampson. "However, the work is far from over. We must remain focused on addressing workplace injuries and ensuring that every worker gets home safe. For our members and the DOB staff, safety isn't just about meeting regulations; it's about fostering a culture where every individual's well-being is prioritized. With every project, we are reminded that safety is not just a standard – it's a shared responsibility. We look forward to partnering with the DOB to continually push for better safety-related practices."

"The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) commends the New York City Department of Buildings for its continued leadership in promoting construction safety across the five boroughs. The significant reductions in injuries and incidents are a testament to the collective efforts of industry professionals, advocacy organizations, and regulators who prioritize safety every day," said NEII Executive Director Amy J. Blankenbiller. "We are proud to be part of a sector that is embracing a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. While any fatality is one too many, the progress reflected in this report inspires our continued commitment to making every jobsite safer for every worker."  

"Building in a dense urban environment is always a significant challenge, but New York City's construction industry has proven that their laser focus on increasing site safety is leading to real results," said John T. Evers, president and CEO, the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York. "Engineering plays a critical role in the construction process, and our member firms work closely with the New York City Department of Buildings and other government partners to update important codes and regulations that ensure construction operations are conducted in a safe manner. Construction fuels our region's economic engines, but safety is always paramount, and we are proud to say that our colleagues are leading by example."

"Real Estate Board of New York applauds the effort of DOB to produce this detailed report, as well as our partners in the construction industry, for significant declines in work injuries and construction-related incidents in 2024," said REBNY President James Whelan. "New York City's economy relies on a vibrant construction pipeline that cannot be achieved without safe job sites."

"AGC NYS commends the New York City Department of Buildings on the continued and progressive construction safety initiatives that are obviously producing effective results.  The increase in safety compliance and decrease in construction-related injuries are key to ensuring that all workers go home safely at the end of each day," said Mike Elmendorf, president and CEO, Associated General Contractors of New York State. "AGC NYS continues to work with the DOB in its training and enforcement programs, and we are encouraged by the department's responsiveness and collaboration with the industry.  AGC NYS congratulates the New York City construction industry as whole for its continued efforts in keeping our workers safe."

"This report is a clear sign that New York City's construction industry is moving in the right direction. Builders, contractors, and skilled workers across the five boroughs are embracing a culture of safety, and it's literally saving lives," said New York Building Congress President & CEO Carlo A. Scissura, Esq. "The Building Congress and its members will always be a consistent voice for safer job sites, and we applaud Commissioner Oddo and the Department of Buildings for working alongside the industry to raise standards and protect lives. Together, we're building a safer New York."

"New York's dedicated tradesmen and tradeswomen deserve to have their wellbeing prioritized on the job, and this year's Construction Safety Report offers some reassurance that that is happening," said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. "We must build on this progress in lessening construction site injuries and fatalities and continue to promote safety, proper workforce development, and increased inspections so that this downward trend can be maintained. Hardworking construction workers throughout the city are simply trying to make an honest living, support their families, and pursue the middle class, and we thank Mayor Adams, Commissioner Oddo, and the entire DOB for their ongoing commitment to ensuring each of these workers return home safely after each shift. BCTC also looks forward to continuing its role in promoting construction safety, both in collaboration with elected officials and city and state agencies and through member education and training."

"Licensed contractors in New York City are among our country's most skilled and experienced construction professionals, and the recent safety improvements reinforce the industry's focus on creating healthy work environments that benefit all New Yorkers," said April McIver, Esq., executive director, Plumbing Foundation City of New York. "Construction operations are critical to New York City's economic growth, and we applaud our industry members and government partners for working together to ensure that these operations are performed in the safest manner possible."

"As an organization of almost 150 years, with a focus on public safety and health in the plumbing sector, we applaud the hard work of DOB to maximize safety and safety awareness during all phases of construction and maintenance of NYC buildings," said Terence O'Brien, EVP, Association of Contracting Plumbers City of New York. "Construction is inherently dangerous, but we need to ensure the construction industry and the safety entities like DOB work together transparently and collaboratively to strive for fewer accidents and fatalities on jobsites."

"The New York State Society of Professional Engineers supports the efforts of the NYC Department of Buildings in improving construction safety," said Joseph A. Pasaturo, PE of the NYS Society of Professional Engineers. "The society looks forward to continuing our partnership with DOB to further improve training and safety standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare for all New Yorkers."  

"These latest data from the NYC Department of Buildings clearly demonstrate the impact of investing in site safety training for workers and for reducing the number of building construction-related injuries. Worker's Justice Project (WJP) is proud to have partnered with NYC over the past five years to improve access to the mandatory 40-hour construction site safety training, which we've offered to nearly 4,000 workers, ensuring they are better equipped to protect themselves on the job," said Ligia Guallpa, executive director, Worker's Justice Project. "Site safety training empowers workers to know their rights, conduct informal safety audits of common hazards (e.g., fall risks, trenching, dry cutting), and communicate effectively with supervisors and employers about hazardous conditions. WJP looks forward to continuing our partnership to expand access to this much-needed training, while helping create space for workers to organize and build a culture of safety in an industry where fatalities still disproportionately impact non-union, Latino, and non-English-speaking workers entering construction for the first time."

###