Accidents in New York City construction zones jumped 37 percent in 2012, prompting the Department of Buildings to conduct a two-month construction zone sweep. The survey revealed that nearly half of the city’s construction sites were not following safety codes, the New York Daily News reports.

Since 2008, the Department of Buildings has imposed stricter laws on the construction industry, including a smoking ban at construction sites, increased standpipe inspections and new training for tower crane workers. The measures have helped reduce rates of injuries at building sites. However, additional guidelines are needed in construction zones, says Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri.

The city’s focus will be on low-rise building construction sites, where seven out of eight construction fatalities occurred in 2012. While the Department of Buildings will improve education and enforcement efforts, LiMandri told the Daily News, the city’s construction policies must be improved, too.

While high-rise builders are required to employ a full-time safety manager, low-rise developers can use “site safety coordinators,” who are often stretched thin, overseeing as many as 10 buildings at once.

Some construction workers blame the risks on non-unionized sites. One employee told the Daily News, “Low-rise sites are not regulated well because they are non-union. Workers are scared to open their mouths because they would get fired.”

If you have been injured because of unsafe conditions on a New York or New Jersey construction site, the New York/New Jersey unsafe workplace attorneys of the Ginarte Law Firm are ready to help. Contact us for help getting the money you deserve.

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NYC Buildings: Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri Announces Launch of New Safety Campaign