INDUSTRY LEADERS FORM NEW GROUP TO STRENGHTHEN CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

-- “NYC Construction Industry Safety Council” to identify and develop ways to enhance public and worker safety across New York City --

--Group includes top contractors, Building and Construction Trades Council and REBNY--

NEW YORK, July 1, 2008 – Standing on the steps of City Hall, top executives from the building and construction industry today announced the creation of a privately-funded group which will exclusively promote construction safety and develop ways to enhance safety on worksites throughout New York City. 

The Construction Industry Safety Council’s founding members include:

Building Contractors Association:

• Steven Alessio – Sweet Construction – President & CEO
• John Giammarella – Gotham Organization, Inc. - President
• Paul O’Brien – Building Contractors Association – Managing Director
• Alan Sokolowski – Pavarini McGovern LLC – General Superintendent
• Dan Tishman - Tishman Construction Corp. – Chairman & CEO
• Frank Vasta – Rockrose Construction – Vice President
  
  

Contractors Association of Greater New York

• James Abadie – Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc. – Principle In Charge
• Greg Cuneo – HRH Construction LLC - Chairman
• Pat Difilippo – Turner Construction Company – Executive Vice President
• Susan Hayes – Cauldwell Wingate Company – President & CEO
• Ray McGuire – CAGNY – Managing Director
• Rich Wood – Plaza Construction Corp. – President
  
  

Insulation Contractors Association

• John Delillo – NY Insulation Contractors Association – Executive Director
  
  

Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)

• Steven Spinola – REBNY – President
  
  

Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC)

• Edward J. Malloy – BCTC– President
  
  

Environmental Contractors Association

• Cathy Colella – Hazardous Elimination Corp.- President
• Frank Garito – Environmental Contractors Association – President
  
  

Serving as the group’s president will be Louis J. Coletti, President and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association.

Goals of the New York City Construction Industry Safety Council

• Encourage and facilitate the sharing of ideas and best practices among its members to promote construction safety;
• Conduct research on construction safety practices being utilized in other parts of the U.S. and around the world and evaluate pros/cons of implementing those practices in the dense urban environment of NYC;
• Develop a web site open to members and the general public that includes a database of ideas and best practices that could affect safety on any City construction site;
• Raise safety awareness and the standard of care in the industry through research, education and advocacy;
• Urge the DOB, OSHA and other governmental agencies with jurisdiction over construction in the City to establish safety standards that all contractors building in the city should adhere to;
• Interact with neighborhood representative organizations for discussion and input.