Construction Industry: New York City Crane Regulations Go Too Far

November 7, 2008

It takes a lot of paper to raise a crane in New York City these days.

Maintenance records, tests certifying operators, and proof that a safety meeting has been held are among the documents required in the city since two crane collapses this year killed nine people.

Deadly crane accidents across the country promoted an update of federal regulations for the first time in four decades. New York has sought to become a leading national example, with dozens of new rules intended to prevent accidents.

But the city's construction industry says the rules have become too unwieldy to follow, are hard to enforce and often cause costly delays. Contractors say construction sites are often shut down for days or weeks for minor violations, like a missing piece of paperwork or a messy site.