Safety

Every construction project has a budget, a schedule, and a list of risks. But what about the cost of a decision that never gets made? I've spent a good part of my career bringing people together, asking questions, moderating industry discussions, and, perhaps most importantly, listening. One thing I've learned is that some of the most valuable conversations happen when we bring different perspectives to the same table. Contractors see one set of challenges. Architects and eng

New York City Department of Buildings (NYCDOB) LL126, Article 323, requires building owners to complete a series of steps to help improve the safety of parking garage structures in all five boroughs. A parking structure is defined as a building or space used for parking or storage of motor vehicles, other than an automotive service station, automotive repair shop, or private garages serving one- and two-family homes not exceeding 650 square feet in area and one-story height.

This is my second Skylines article on staged accident fraud and the Scaffold Law and how it is hurting New York construction sites. I have been President of Andromeda for nearly two and a half years now, leading the fight against staged accidents on job sites. Before that, I spent over 34 years conducting and directing high scale federal corruption investigations. Being in that world for so long, plus being a certified fraud examiner, has made me a natural skeptic. I need rea

Safety is not just a priority, it is a responsibility we carry on every project, every day. The work we do comes with inherent risks, and how we prepare for and manage those risks defines who we are as a company. Safety is not just a priority, it is a responsibility Our commitment to safety is rooted in one simple objective, everyone goes home. That outcome depends on planning, awareness, and a shared understanding that no task is too urgent to be done without the right contr

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has announced an important safety upgrade for sidewalk sheds. Under Local Law 47 of 2025 (LL47) , which took effect on August 15, 2025, sidewalk sheds must now meet higher lighting standards to improve pedestrian safety and visibility across the city’s streets. PHOTO: GUY/STOCK.ADOBE.COM According to the new regulation, sidewalk sheds with construction documents submitted on or after August 15, 2025 must provide a minimum illum

Inside New York’s Fight Against Scaffold Law Fraud By Andriana Vamvakas, CFE President, Andromeda Advantage "The first time the pattern stopped feeling like coincidence I knew that something larger was at work." After 34 years as a federal investigator I followed paper trails, exposed networks, and helped secure indictments and convictions in fraud cases that involved millions of dollars. As a certified fraud examiner, I have been trained to trust patterns and to remain a nat

Local Law 47 of 2025 (LL47) , effective August 15, 2025, raises the required minimum clear ceiling height for new sidewalk sheds from 8 feet to 12 feet. The change applies to all sidewalk shed construction documents submitted on or after August 15. Existing sheds do not need to be modified. The higher clearance aims to improve visibility, accessibility, and the overall pedestrian experience while maintaining safety during construction and façade work. The law allows flexibili

The NYC Department of Buildings has introduced expanded color options for sidewalk sheds and solid construction or demolition fences under Local Law 47 of 2025 (LL47) , effective August 15, 2025. Previously, these protective structures were required to be hunter green, with limited allowances for white. PHOTO: SPRING SCAFFOLDING Local Law 47 now authorizes three standard colors—hunter green, metallic gray, and white—for all sidewalk sheds and fences. For existing buildings (