2024 NYC Construction Safety Report Highlights Record-Low Incidents

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo have released the 2024 New York City Construction Safety Report, which shows a 30 percent decline in worker injuries and a 24 percent decrease in construction-related incidents compared to 2023. The construction sector also saw fatalities remain at a ten-year low.

Throughout 2024, DOB conducted 416,290 field inspections, the highest on record, and introduced several measures to boost site safety. These initiatives included enhanced oversight mandates for construction superintendents, new licensing requirements for smaller crane and hoisting machine operators, and expanded use of digital technology for tracking safety compliance. The city also saw an increase in initial construction permits, with a 24 percent rise compared to 2023, indicating a continued robust building pipeline while maintaining a focus on safety.

The report’s data show that over 98 percent of active construction sites did not report any injuries or incidents in 2024. Overall, construction-related incidents dropped from 841 in 2023 to 638 in 2024, while injuries declined from 692 to 482 over the same period. Seven fatalities were reported, matching the previous year’s total. Looking forward, the DOB plans to launch a new enforcement unit utilizing predictive analytics to proactively identify and inspect high-risk buildings and contractors.

“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.”

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