New OSHA Training Requirements For Public Work To Take Effect

Effective July 18, 2008, a new section will be added to New York's Labor Law. The new section, known as Labor Law Section 220-h, requires that workers on a public works construction project must be certified as having completed an OSHA-approved construction safety and health course which is at least 10 hours long. The certification for each worker must be in place prior to his/her performance of any work on the project, and applies to contracts where the total cost of all work to be performed is at least $250,000.

New York public works contractors and subcontractors may wish to start making plans for worker training well in advance of the new statute's effective date.