Crane Regulations Corruption
The New York Times reports on corruption within the construction industry in New York City, especially as it pertains to cranes. Crane construction accidents were a big problem in the city last year, as multiple deaths resulted from poor crane regulations. The news of corruption comes as crane regulations are being implemented from the Buildings Commission.
After two fatal tower crane accidents last year, New York City instituted a series of reforms to increase safety and oversight in the construction industry, including requiring a 30-hour class for crane operators and other workers on the safest way to raise and lower a tower crane.
But some sessions of the city-mandated class are being taught by a union official who has admitted that he helped unqualified people, including organized crime figures, get into his union, according to sworn testimony and investigative reports. He and other union officials helped some of those men secure licenses to operate smaller cranes at construction sites across the city, the testimony and the reports say.