What Does OSHA and DOB SST Training Encompass?

NYC’s Department of Buildings aims to minimize construction site incidents and deaths. As a result, it has instituted several measures to enhance worksite safety. The DOB and OSHA have mandated guidelines that necessitate site safety training for workers before they can work on a construction or demolition site. DOB’s Chapter 33 devotes an entire section titled Section BC 3321 to construction site safety training.

Section 3321 was added by Local Law 196 of 2017 and became effective on October 16, 2017.

What Does Section 3321 Entail?

According to 3321.1, permit holders for building sites requiring a construction superintendent, site safety manager, or site safety coordinator are responsible for ensuring that each construction or demolition worker completes the necessary site safety training required by OSHA and the DOB. Workers can either complete an OSHA 10-hour class and an OSHA 30-hour class or complete a 100-hour training program.

Workers can’t work on construction or demolition sites without fulfilling these training programs.

Construction workers must also have an SST, limited SST, or temporary SST card. These cards are used to verify the workers have completed the necessary training.

Similarly, site safety managers, coordinators, and construction superintendents are also not exempt from this requirement. Per Section 3301.13.12, they must carry an SST supervisor card.

It’s also important to note that the DOB may establish alternative training requirements for workers performing tasks on buildings less than four stories high. Likewise, workers performing voluntary work for a not-for-profit humanitarian organization registered with the NY state charities bureau may also have different training requirements.

What Duties Must the Permit Holder Fulfill?

Section 3321.2 details that permit holders for building sites must ensure that employed workers fulfill the requirements of Section 3321.1. They’re also responsible for certifying to the DOB that these requirements have been fulfilled. In addition, permit holders must maintain daily logs for work sites. These logs must identify each worker and include copies of their SST, limited SST, temporary SST, or SST supervisor cards. They must also be prepared to provide these logs to the department if requested.

How Much Training Do Workers Need?

Local Law 196 states that construction and demolition workers on sites requiring a site safety plan must have 40 hours of SST training and an SST worker card.

Workers with a 30-hour OSHA card issued within the past five years can opt for the 10-hour SST training program for workers. It includes an eight-hour fall prevention course and a two-hour drug and alcohol awareness program. Workers without the 30-hour OSHA card must undergo a 40-hour training course, including a 30-hour OSHA training program, an eight-hour fall prevention course, and a two-hour drug and alcohol awareness program.