Councilor Flynn to Hold Hearing on Construction Safety this Friday

See Press Release Below:

BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn will be chairing a virtual hearing regarding safety of construction sites this Friday, December 4th, at 11:30am. Councilor Flynn filed this hearing order to discuss the existing safety procedures and precautions at construction sites due to tragedies, accidents and fires in recent years that have impacted workers, neighbors and pedestrians. In the age of COVID-19, this hearing will also place an emphasis on ways that the City can ensure the protection and well-being of our workers and residents as we continue to be in the midst of a pandemic.

In recent years, the City of Boston has been experiencing an unprecedented building boom, with large scale construction sites in various neighborhoods. These sites have heavy machinery, tall cranes, and the equipment that is in close proximity to their workers, as well as our residents, our workforce, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. Construction workers are often at high risk of suffering occupational injuries and fatalities, and according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 20.7% of worker fatalities were in the construction industry in 2017.

We have unfortunately witnessed several accidents in recent years of injured or even killed construction workers, including an incident where a construction worker was struck and killed by equipment while setting up “First Night” celebrations in Boston late December last year.  As we are also still dealing with the pandemic, we also need to ensure that our construction workers are provided with the adequate personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while on the job. It is therefore critical that we ensure the safety of our construction workers, as well as our residents and workforce, that we make sure that safety procedures and precautions are adhered to at these worksites.

“Construction workers are a critical part of our workforce in the city, and it is imperative that our these sites have the appropriate measures in place to ensure their health and safety, especially in the age of COVID-19,” said Councilor Flynn. “Moreover, we need to ensure that construction sites and equipment are secured, and that there are strict measures in place to prevent any accidents that can harm pedestrians, motorists, and neighbors. I look forward to working with city officials and safety advocates on this issue.”

For more information on the hearing, please visit https://www.boston.gov/public-notices/13674681, or contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or [email protected].