CONTENTS:

The Building Block Volume 7 , Issue 3

March 11, 2016

1

BUZZ OF THE MONTH 2

ARTICLE– THE ONGO-

ING SITE SAFETY

PROBELM

3

HORROR STORIES 4

SERVICE UPDATES 5

MEET CRSG

LINDA JONES

6

RECRUITMENT 7

CRSG NEWS 9

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH

10

CONSTRUCTION & REALTY SERVICES GROUP

68 Whitehall Street

Lynbrook, NY 11563

Tel: (516) 256-0317

Fax: (516) 256-0335

307 West 38th Street, Suite 1218

New York, NY 10018

Tel: (212)736-6900

Fax: (212) 736-6910

www.crs-group.com

NYC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT SWEEP AND NEW REGULATIONS

In February, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler announced

that they will quadruple the penalties for serious construction-safety lapses, conduct a wave of more

than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect

workers and the public amid the record building boom. These new policies are a direct reaction to some

of the more high profile accidents that have occurred in the industry in recent months.

Under the new policies:

Fines quadrupled for safety lapses: Class 1 fines to increase from $2,400 to $10,000. Class 2 fines to

increase from $1,200 to $5,000. These new penalties will be for serious failures to safeguard construc-

tion sites. DOB inspectors routinely issue multiple such violations following a construction accident. In

addition to higher penalties and stopping work, the DOB will aggressively seek to suspend or revoke

licenses/registrations of Site Safety Managers, Site Safety Coordinators, Construction Superintendents

and other licensees involved in unsafe construction practices.

Sweeps of high-risk construction sites: This past month, the DOB began sweeping contractors with

poor safety records who are working on buildings under 10 stories. Last year, a disproportionate number

of accidents occurred at these sites. The DOB will also sweep all construction sites over 15 stories. All

told, 1,500 job sites will be swept in the next 90 days. During the sweep, inspectors will be looking for

failures to use proper safety equipment, install guardrails or remedy trip hazards, among other infrac-

tions.

Increase supervision at smaller projects: By July, the DOB will require construction superintendents for

all major construction projects at buildings under 10 stories – not simply new construction, as currently

required. Superintendents will now have to review sites daily and log all safety information. Contractors

who fail to comply will be issued stop-work orders and penalties from $5,000 to $25,000 for repeat

infractions or other proactive enforcement measures, as necessary.

DOB BULLETINS

Grease Duct Enclosure

Assemblies

Bulletin 2016-003

This document establishes criteria for

grease duct enclosure assemblies

not prescribed in the Mechanical

Code as alternative to the NYC

Construction Codes.

Historic Structure for Flood

Zone Purposes

Bulletin 2016-004

This document clarifies the definition

of historic structure for flood zone

purposes.

Post-Installed Anchors

Bulletin 2016-005

This document establishes

acceptance criteria for post-installed

anchors in masonry in accordance

with the NYC Construction Codes.

02

BUZZ OF THE MONTH

What will 2016 hold for the recent City Council push for

enhanced safety regulation/legislation for construction

sites?

Word is initial data review yields findings that construc-

tion safety is not affected by collective bargaining but ra-

ther job size.

DID YOU KNOW…?

Professional applicants can now file a Site Safety Plan for

typical façade alterations as a professional certified

Alteration Type 3.

NYCTA vibration monitoring has become an incredible cost

during demolition, excavation, and foundation on new

buildings within the area of influence. Owners have to pay

private companies to monitor as well as pay the NYCTA for

their staff.

Are the accommodations being given by the DOB (qualified

persons, pro-cert, for façade site safety plans) really go-

ing to give any relief to the current site safety manager

shortage problem?

As the union/non-union rhetoric heats up, how will safety

measures be enforced even handedly across all jobs?

03

ARTICLES

THE ONGOING

SITE SAFETY

PROBLEM

As time progresses, the site safety situation seems to be getting worse. It has

been several months since we began telling you all about the site safety crisis.

As you are aware, there are many projects waiting to start due to the lack of

safety managers available in the city.

The demand for Licensed Safety Managers has also caused the hourly rate to

rise significantly. Despite tremendous efforts to prevent this from happening,

the crisis is here and it does not seem to be getting any better. We are con-

stantly recruiting and as we have made you aware, we developed an on the job

training program to promote home grown safety managers but this does not

help with what is currently happening.

We are doing all that we can to get projects to be released from the site safety

program as soon as possible. Additionally, we've been successful obtaining

some accommodations from DOB that offer additional options to cover the pro-

jects.

Some of our alternative solutions are:

ASM / alternative safety management; We provide a qualified safety profes-

sional to work under a licensed super or PM on the project, we perform all

safety duties, responsibilities, and do the paperwork for the job, but the

"license" is provided by CM/GC. This also results in a cost savings to the

project.

Reduction of license/requirement for manpower - getting CCD1's approved

which allow a Coordinator to take place of a Manger thru excava-

tion/foundation, which gives us a greater labor pool to pull from. OR for ren-

ovation projects reducing the requirement of onsite fulltime presence to only

during exterior work/demolition/high risk operations (also via CCD1)

Combining projects and safety managers- 2 projects with close proximity

(next block) allowed to use 1 safety manager for both projects (this is very

project specific) same owner, same contractor, same stage of construction.

Although these alternatives have alleviated some of the pressure, the issue will

soon be insurmountable if a change is not made soon. Your continued support

and understanding is appreciated as we work thru these difficult times.

For a very old project I have been working

on, I needed to withdraw Doc 02 BL and PL

work types. I had refiled this for inspections

purposes under an Alt 2 permit that was

closed out. I had substantial plans, inspec-

tions and filing documents that all collabo-

rated my request and should have sufficed

to obtain the approval for the WD.

Unfortunately, the DOB did not see it my way. First, the borough manager sent me to the examiner, who

sent me to plumbing, who sent me back to plan examiner, who then sent me to Chief. Then the chief

sent me to plan examiner and plumbing! This round robin went on for 6 weeks; finally the plumbing

chief agreed to withdraw with one additional inspection! However, Inspection Ready was now in place,

so he refused to schedule the inspection for me. When I explained that the system would not recognize

Doc 02 because it was only approved and not permitted, he said you had to work with the Inspections

Ready Department for it to get scheduled. I worked with them to no avail for 4 months! Finally, an in-

spection was scheduled, which I passed and the document was withdrawn, only to find out the inspec-

tion ready system scheduled the inspection against Doc 01! Now the reports and back up were all

wrong! I now I have to do an extra step to coordinate a resolution report. All of this is my responsibility

because the Department of Buildings doesn't know yet how to operate the Inspection Ready system

they now have in place.

06

HORROR STORIES

Inside Scoop

From Domani

Expediters

I requested 2 folders from the records room at the DOB at the beginning of February. The day I request-

ed them, I found out the folders were "off-site" which basically means they are not at the building de-

partment and were shipped off to different building for storage. I put in the request for the off-site folder

and was told if found that they will be ready in a week or so. I followed up 1 weeks as told and spoke to

a different clerk that day to see if my folders were ready and once again was denied. I found out the lady

who I spoke with that week prior never put in my "off-site" request, so I had to re-request them. I fol-

lowed up once again in a week and again was told no one put in my request (second time). Of course I

had to put in another request and followed up the third time around– third times the charm! The clerk

then told me the folders were found but because no-one picked them up and they had shipped them

back (even after the fact that I have been following up every week), and I would have to wait another

week. So at this point I felt I had no other option and requested to speak to the head of records and told

her my issue with the folder request. The clerk again told me the only way to get my folders were to re-

request them and again wait another week. Finally, after almost 4 weeks of going back and forth and

following up, I got my folders.

I submitted 2 applications for sign off in the Manhattan DOB. Both applications are for the same address

and same project. They were for 2 signs to be installed, both had the same applicant, same required

items and both were submitted at the exact same time at DOB. In one day, 1 application was signed off

and the other was not. We checked to see if the application not signed off was rejected for some reason

and it was not. We spoke with a supervisor who assured us it was on someone’s desk and would be

signed off by the end of the day. That was a week ago and it is still not signed off. After continuous con-

versations with the supervisor she informed us that they must have lost the paperwork and we now

need to resubmit all sign off paperwork again in order to close the job out. To reiterate, both applica-

tions were submitted on the same day, at the exact same time one on top of the other in the “sign off

basket” resulting in 1 job being processed/signed off and the other was somehow lost. Sometimes you

just can’t make this stuff up.

05

40 Hour Safety 30 Hour Concrete 30 Hour OSHA 7 Hour SSM Refresher

Tues. 3/1: 4-9:30pm

Thurs. 3/3: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/8: 4-9:30pm

Thurs. 3/10: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/15: 4-9:30pm

Thurs. 3/17: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/22: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/24: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/29: 4-9:30pm

Tues. 3/31: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/2: 4-9:30pm

Mon. 3/7: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/9: 4-9:30pm

Mon. 3/14: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/16: 4-9:30pm

Mon. 3/21: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/23: 4-9:30pm

Mon. 3/28: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/30: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/2: 4-9:30pm

Fri. 3/4: 4-9:30pm

Fri. 3/11: 4-9:30pm

Fri. 3/18: 4-9:30pm

Fri. 3/25: 4-9:30pm

Wed. 3/30: 4-9:30pm

Sat. 3/5: 8-3:30pm

Sat: 3/19: 8-3:30pm

10 Hour OSHA

Sat: 3/12: 8-7pm

Sat: 3/26: 8-7pm

SAFETY COURSES

SERVICE UPDATES

As of March 21, 2016

Limited Alteration Application (LAA): Intent to Revoke and Revoke Notifications

An Intent to Revoke and Revoke banner– in addition to the “Open Issues” banner– will now be visible in BIS on a Limited

Alteration Application when the scope of work is considered non– code compliant, hazardous or egregious.

Procedure:

An Intent to Revoke letter explaining the reason(s) for the objection(s) including steps for correction will be sent to

the property owner and the applicant of record.

Fifteen calendar days or ten business days from the date of issuance of the Intent to Revoke letter, the property

owner or applicant of record can schedule an appointment via email to LAA-audits@buildings.nyc.gov. During the

time of the appointment, applicants are expected to submit sufficient information demonstrating why the permit

should not be revoked.

A Stop Work Order may be issued immediately following the Intent to Revoke to notification.

Failure to comply:

If the applicant fails to comply within fifteen calendar days or ten business days from the date of notice, the LAA will

be revoked.

Failure to comply with the Stop Work Order may result in the issuance of a Work Without Permit violation, in addition

to other fines and penalties.

As of February 2016

Lifting Advance Notice Failed Spot Check Conditions

The Plumbing Enforcement Unit is responsible for conduction field spot checks of professionally certified Plumbing and Fire

Suppression work types. When these spot check inspections fail, the Licensee is no longer able to submit professional

certifications for that particular job. All tests/inspections associated with the failed spot check will automatically be resulted

as failed.

In order to obtain sign off for the job, one of the following actions must be taken:

The Licensee can submit for a physical DOB-conducted inspection from the Borough Development Plumbing

Inspection Unit.

The job can be superseded by another Licensed Master Plumber or Master Fire Suppression Contractor and a new

advanced notice submitted

A P.E. or R.A. can be added to the job record and submit results to certify the advance notice tests/inspections

associated with the failed spot check.

In order to submit a new Advance Notice in Inspection Ready for the superseded job, the Failed Spot Check condition from

the previous inspection must be approved for removal.

06

MEET CRSG

LINDA JONES

RECEPTIONIST

NYC FUN FACTS

New Yorkers drink nearly seven times more coffee than other cities in

the United States.

Q: What is your job title?

A: I am the receptionist at Construction & Realty Services Group based in

Lynbrook.

Q: What is the company dress code?

A: The company dress code is casual.

Q: What kind of hours do you normally work?

A: I work typical hours– Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm .

Q: To what extent do you interact with customers/clients?

A: Although I don’t interact with clients face to face, as the receptionist, I’m al-

ways interfacing with clients on the phone.

Q: What do you like most about the company?

A: What is like most about the company is that there is always something to do.

It makes the day go by very quickly.

Q: What systems are in place to enable employees to give management feed-

back and suggestions?

A: Management and the heads of the departments have monthly meetings to as-

sure that all operations are going as smoothly as possible.

Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at the company? Is it fairly for-

mal or more laid back and informal?

A: I would describe the atmosphere at the office to be formal, yet laid back. Eve-

ryone means business and is all about getting work done. Compared to other

places that I’ve worked, there is definitely no tension or inter-personnel stress.

Q: Do people in your department function fairly autonomously, or do they re-

quire a lot of supervision and direction?

A: Everyone basically knows their job and if anyone needs help, coworkers are

eager to help out. No one really requires micro-managing.

Q: How do you describe the morale level of people who work here?

A: Everyone at the company is very friendly, respectful and moods are typically

upbeat.

07

CRSG NEWS

Please visit www.crs-group.com and check it out!

You can find useful information on our companies, our services, personnel,

recruitment, and safety training and events.

Tell us how we’re doing! Send an email to info@crs-group.com

CRSG is a “one stop” compliance, safety and engineering entity for the NYC

real estate and construction industry.

Domani Consulting can provide all compliance services from the filing and ap-

proval of plans to the signoff of D14 applications; to obtaining TCO/C of O for

Alt 1 or NB applications. Domani’s expeditors work through all agencies (DOB,

DOT, NYCFD, Landmarks, DEP, etc.) to prepare, file, approve and signoff pro-

jects. In conjunction with Domani Design, plans can be prepared and engi-

neering and architectural services can be provided. Combine these services

with Domani Inspection for either Alt II D14, special inspection requirements

and/or all controlled inspections/test requirements (with its certified affiliate-

Labs) for either major alterations or NB’s. Our “one stop” filing, controlled com-

pliance program/mechanism completes the full service package.

EWBC offers full scale labor services that will provide all required collective bar-

gaining labor as well as fully managed general condition labor.

CR Safety offers services for safety management combining program, plan and

safety design development, safety inspection, management, record keeping,

physical protection and training to meet any or all safety needs on a site.

ABOUT US

Don’t forget to check

out our website at

www.crs-group.com

08

Our Construction &

Realty Services Group

seeks dynamic

individuals to join our

team!

RECRUITMENT

08

Our Construction &

Realty Services Group

seeks dynamic

individuals to join our

team!

RECRUITMENT

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

The following will be some of your tasks, but will not be limited to:

1. Responsibilities of the Site Safety Manager (SSM), Site Safety Coordinator (SSC) and Concrete Safety

Manager (CSM) are to monitor compliance with the safety requirements of Chapter 33 of the NYC Building

Code, as well as OSHA and to perform all other safety duties assigned by CRSG, the owner or contractor to

meet legal requirements by record-keeping and reporting on major buildings in New York City.

2. The SSM, SSC CSM shall maintain a daily log book notating any unsafe acts or deficiencies with locations as

well as maintain a permit log.

3. Check Site Safety Plan daily to ensure that the approved Plans are current and up to date.

4. Meet on a weekly basis with the designated representative of each subcontractor to ascertain that all

subcontractors are complying with the applicable provisions of Chapter 33 of

the NYC Building Code, OSHA, FDNY and any applicable local or federal agen-

cies.

5. Any additional tasks identified by your supervisor

Qualifications:

NYC Site Safety Managers License

Must be a team player and have the ability to effectively multi-task

Detail-oriented and ability to work independently with moderate supervision and

guidance

Good written and verbal communication skills

Architecture and/or construction experience a plus

Must be internet savvy & have experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel,

Word, etc.)

General knowledge of NYC building codes and/or filing process a plus.

Safety Management, Analyzing Information, Informing Others, Written Communication, Legal Compliance,

Judgment, Integrity, NYC DOB Chapter 33, OSHA, FDNY & DOT Compliance, Presentation Skills. Microsoft

Word & Excel.

SITE SAFETY MANAGERS

CONSTRUCTION FIELD INSPECTOR

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

1. The following will be some of your tasks, but will not be limited to:

2. Performing field inspections at construction sites per Department of Buildings requirements.

3. Prepare written reports on multi-discipline inspections per Management.

4. Coordination of drawings and field conditions during onsite inspections.

5. Other miscellaneous tasks requested by your supervisor.

Company will support obtaining necessary ICC certifications to perform various special inspections.

Qualifications

Construction, Architecture, and /or Engineering experience desired

General knowledge of NYC construction codes and/or filing process a

plus

Request 5 years minimum experience in related fields.

Must be internet savvy & have experience with Microsoft Office

(Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)

Good written and verbal communication skills

Ability to interpret engineering/architectural plans and specifications

Must be a team player and have the ability to effectively multi-task

Detail-oriented and ability to work independently with moderate super-

vision and guidance

Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines

09

DOB INFO

Building One City

Commissioner Chandler’s plan that will fundamentally reform the agency

to enhance public safety, reduce wait times and delays, and modernize all

aspects of the agency to meet the needs of a 21st century city.

3/2: REBNY– Retail Committee @ Cornell Club 12-2pm

3/3: REBNY- Lower Manhattan Office Building Luncheon @

Delmonico’s

3/4: REBNY– RSC Executive Committee @ Burton Resnick

Conference Room 9:30-11am

3/7: REBNY– NYRS Series @ Mendik Edu. Center 4-7pm

3/14: REBNY– NYRS Series @ Mendik Edu. Center 4-7pm

3/15: PWC– Healthcare Construction Forum @ Steelcase

Showroom 8-10:30am

3/15: REBNY– Midtown West/Penn Plaza Luncheon @ Rudin 12-

2pm

3/16: REBNY– Grand Central Committee Luncheon @ RXR Realty

12-2pm

3/17: REBNY– Building Agents Rental Meeting @ REBNY Boardroom

8:15-9:15am

3/18: REBNY– Residential Rental Clinic Roundtable Seminar

@ Mendik Edu. Center 9am-12pm

3/21: BOMA– Annual Cigar Night @ Rossini’s Restaurant

5:30-10pm

3/21: REBNY– NYRS Series @ Mendik Edu. Center 4-7pm

3/22: REBNY– Commercial Real Estate Luncheon @ The Yale Club

12-2pm

3/23: REBNY– The Secrets of Top Brokers and Industry Leaders

@ Mendik Edu. Center 5:30-7pm

3/24: BTEA– Executive Committee @ BTEA Conference Room 8am

3/24: REBNY– Residential Brooklyn Committee @ Cushman &

Wakefield 9:30-11am

For More Events, please visit

www.crs-group.com

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2

REBNY– Retail

Committee

3

REBNY- Lower

Manhattan Office

Building Lunch-

eon

4

REBNY– RSC

Executive Com-

mittee

5

6 7

REBNY– NYRS

Series

8 9 10 11 12

13 14

REBNY– NYRS

Series

15

PWC– Healthcare

Construction Fo-

rum

16

REBNY– Grand

Central Committee

Luncheon

17

REBNY– Building

Agents Rental

Meeting

18

REBNY– Resi-

dential Rental

Clinic Roundtable

Seminar

19

20 21

REBNY– NYRS

Series

22

REBNY– Commer-

cial Real Estate

Luncheon

23

REBNY– The Se-

crets of Top Bro-

kers and Industry

Leaders

24

BTEA– Executive

Committee

25 26

27 28 29 30 31

MARCH 2016

10