The number of jobsite accidents and injuries in New York City and the surrounding areas has increased significantly just as the city has reduced oversight of worksites, according to a report by the Daily News. Specifically, city records show that jobsite accidents in New York City jumped from 119 in fiscal 2011 to 157 in fiscal 2012, an increase of 31 percent, while the number of injuries rose from 128 to 187, an increase of 48 percent.

Additionally, statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that construction fatalities jumped from 28 in 2010 to 40 in 2011 in the New York metro area, which includes northern New Jersey and Long Island.

Falls are among the leading cause of New York construction site accidents. Workers falling from ladders or roofs or being injured by falling objects are almost commonplace in the New York City area. On March 22, 2012, a 69-year-old worker was killed when the floor above him collapsed as the result of a crack in the steel beam that was holding up the floor. Witnesses indicated that the crack was obvious and that the floor was “visibly sagging, in danger of collapse.” As is too often the case, the city Department of Buildings was not notified of the danger.

Just when the number of accidents and injuries appears to be increasing, the city has downsized the department in charge of construction worksite oversight. City records indicate that the number of construction worksite inspections dropped from 244,000 in 2009 to around 144,000 in 2012, a decrease of approximately 40 percent. A corresponding drop in the number of violations has followed. The number of violation notices sent out by the city dropped by 6,600 from 2011 to 2012, meaning that those responsible for the safety of construction worksites are less likely to be held responsible for a safety violation.

City officials admit that they are understaffed and that they need to hire additional inspectors. In the meantime, they are essentially dependent on contractors to police themselves — a system that rarely works well. “Like all city agencies, we are somewhat limited in the inspectorial force, so that licensees or registrants will report to the Department of Buildings what goes on,” said Barry Romm, chief inspector for the city Department of Buildings.

The city actually allows construction superintendents to monitor their own developments, which can lead to an obvious conflict of interest. From a financial perspective, a superintendent wants to see the work continue without stop, whereas a safety issue often causes a work stoppage. This conflict can lead to serious injuries, even death, on the construction site.