There are no savings when workers pay with their lives.
There are no savings when workers pay with their lives.
Corporate real estate ventures are fighting to remove workers’ rights and safety laws to cut costs, making hardworking New Yorkers shoulder the cost and risk their lives.
Safety first
Since 1885
New York’s Scaffold Safety Law is the foundation for safer workers & safer New Yorkers.
New York’s Scaffold Safety Law is the foundation for safer workers & safer New Yorkers.
Since 1885, the Scaffold Safety Law has required building owners and contractors to provide proper scaffolding, ladders, hoists and fall protection to anyone working at height. If that equipment is missing or fails and a worker falls or is struck by a falling object, the people in charge are responsible. That is why fall protection is in place before a worker ever leaves the ground.
Since 1885, the Scaffold Safety Law has required building owners and contractors to provide proper scaffolding, ladders, hoists and fall protection to anyone working at height. If that equipment is missing or fails and a worker falls or is struck by a falling object, the people in charge are responsible. That is why fall protection is in place before a worker ever leaves the ground.
The numbers behind the law.
The numbers behind the law.
New York reached record affordable-housing production in 2025 with the Scaffold Safety Law in full force. Here is what the law protects workers from.
Weiss Ratings, 2026
141
years protecting New York workers. The Scaffold Safety Law has been on the books since 1885, and New York is the last state with a law like it.
Weiss Ratings, 2026
141
years protecting New York workers. The Scaffold Safety Law has been on the books since 1885, and New York is the last state with a law like it.
Weiss Ratings, 2026
50%+
of New York City construction injuries and deaths are caused by falls, the hazard this law exists to prevent.
NYC Department of Buildings, cited in Weiss Ratings, 2026
50%+
of New York City construction injuries and deaths are caused by falls, the hazard this law exists to prevent.
NYC Department of Buildings, cited in Weiss Ratings, 2026
74
construction workers died on the job in New York State in 2023, a 48% jump in a single year.
NYCOSH, Deadly Skyline, 2025
74
construction workers died on the job in New York State in 2023, a 48% jump in a single year.
NYCOSH, Deadly Skyline, 2025
26%
of New York State worker deaths in 2023 were Latino workers, who make up about 10% of the workforce.
NYCOSH, Deadly Skyline, 2025
26%
of New York State worker deaths in 2023 were Latino workers, who make up about 10% of the workforce.
NYCOSH, Deadly Skyline, 2025
What the law does
What the law does
01
Safety comes first.
Before anyone works at height, building owners and contractors must provide scaffolding, harnesses and other fall protection.
01
Safety comes first.
Before anyone works at height, building owners and contractors must provide scaffolding, harnesses and other fall protection.
01
Safety comes first.
Before anyone works at height, building owners and contractors must provide scaffolding, harnesses and other fall protection.
01
Safety comes first.
Before anyone works at height, building owners and contractors must provide scaffolding, harnesses and other fall protection.
02
The people in charge are accountable.
If that protection is missing or fails and a worker is hurt, the owner and contractor are responsible, not the worker.
02
The people in charge are accountable.
If that protection is missing or fails and a worker is hurt, the owner and contractor are responsible, not the worker.
02
The people in charge are accountable.
If that protection is missing or fails and a worker is hurt, the owner and contractor are responsible, not the worker.
02
The people in charge are accountable.
If that protection is missing or fails and a worker is hurt, the owner and contractor are responsible, not the worker.
03
Families aren’t left with the bill.
Injured workers can recover lost wages and medical costs instead of passing them on to their families and taxpayers.
03
Families aren’t left with the bill.
Injured workers can recover lost wages and medical costs instead of passing them on to their families and taxpayers.
03
Families aren’t left with the bill.
Injured workers can recover lost wages and medical costs instead of passing them on to their families and taxpayers.
03
Families aren’t left with the bill.
Injured workers can recover lost wages and medical costs instead of passing them on to their families and taxpayers.
Cutting protections. Calling it savings.
Cutting protections. Calling it savings.
A coalition of developers, contractors and insurance-backed groups is pushing Albany to replace the Scaffold Safety Law with “comparative negligence,” a standard that lets juries blame the worker who fell. They say it will lower insurance costs and build more housing. They have not shown the numbers.
Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York
Lawsuit Reform Alliance of NY
Associated General Contractors of New York
AGC of New York
Citizens Budget Commission
Citizens Budget Commission
NY Civil Justice Institute (insurance-backed)
NY Civil Justice Institute
Empire Center
Empire Center
Myth
Work injury claims in New York are on the rise.
Fact
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
The facts
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
Independent findings from the NYS Department of Financial Services and the NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board show loss costs falling for nearly every construction job classification.
NYS Department of Financial Services and NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board, 2026
Myth
Work injury claims in New York are on the rise.
Fact
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
The facts
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
Independent findings from the NYS Department of Financial Services and the NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board show loss costs falling for nearly every construction job classification.
NYS Department of Financial Services and NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board, 2026
Myth
Work injury claims in New York are on the rise.
Fact
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
The facts
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
Independent findings from the NYS Department of Financial Services and the NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board show loss costs falling for nearly every construction job classification.
NYS Department of Financial Services and NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board, 2026
Myth
Work injury claims in New York are on the rise.
Fact
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
The facts
Workers’ comp loss costs are down 21.9% in 2026.
Independent findings from the NYS Department of Financial Services and the NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board show loss costs falling for nearly every construction job classification.
NYS Department of Financial Services and NY Compensation Insurance Rating Board, 2026
Myth
Insurers can’t afford to cover New York construction.
Fact
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
The facts
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
Carriers insuring New York construction set records in 2025:
Chubb: $10.31B net income
Zurich: $8.9B operating profit
Travelers: $6.3B core income
Yet insurers fight Sunshine Bills that would open their books.
Chubb, Zurich Insurance Group and Travelers 2025 annual results
Myth
Insurers can’t afford to cover New York construction.
Fact
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
The facts
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
Carriers insuring New York construction set records in 2025:
Chubb: $10.31B net income
Zurich: $8.9B operating profit
Travelers: $6.3B core income
Yet insurers fight Sunshine Bills that would open their books.
Chubb, Zurich Insurance Group and Travelers 2025 annual results
Myth
Insurers can’t afford to cover New York construction.
Fact
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
The facts
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
Carriers insuring New York construction set records in 2025:
Chubb: $10.31B net income
Zurich: $8.9B operating profit
Travelers: $6.3B core income
Yet insurers fight Sunshine Bills that would open their books.
Chubb, Zurich Insurance Group and Travelers 2025 annual results
Myth
Insurers can’t afford to cover New York construction.
Fact
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
The facts
Construction insurers are posting record profits.
Carriers insuring New York construction set records in 2025:
Chubb: $10.31B net income
Zurich: $8.9B operating profit
Travelers: $6.3B core income
Yet insurers fight Sunshine Bills that would open their books.
Chubb, Zurich Insurance Group and Travelers 2025 annual results
Myth
The Scaffold Safety Law stops New York from building.
Fact
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
The facts
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
New rental units rose 36.6% from 2024, and total housing completions rose 14.24%. Major public and private projects are underway across the state, fully funded and fully insured, all with the law in place.
Debunking the Construction ‘Crisis’ Myth, 2026
Myth
The Scaffold Safety Law stops New York from building.
Fact
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
The facts
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
New rental units rose 36.6% from 2024, and total housing completions rose 14.24%. Major public and private projects are underway across the state, fully funded and fully insured, all with the law in place.
Debunking the Construction ‘Crisis’ Myth, 2026
Myth
The Scaffold Safety Law stops New York from building.
Fact
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
The facts
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
New rental units rose 36.6% from 2024, and total housing completions rose 14.24%. Major public and private projects are underway across the state, fully funded and fully insured, all with the law in place.
Debunking the Construction ‘Crisis’ Myth, 2026
Myth
The Scaffold Safety Law stops New York from building.
Fact
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
The facts
NYC led the nation in new apartments in 2025.
New rental units rose 36.6% from 2024, and total housing completions rose 14.24%. Major public and private projects are underway across the state, fully funded and fully insured, all with the law in place.
Debunking the Construction ‘Crisis’ Myth, 2026
Myth
There’s no defense to a Scaffold Safety Law claim.
Fact
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
The facts
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
Courts throw out claims when:
Safety devices were provided
The worker alone caused the fall
The worker refused safety rules
The job or worker wasn’t covered
The law is narrow. It only covers gravity accidents.
New York Labor Law §240(1) and case law
Myth
There’s no defense to a Scaffold Safety Law claim.
Fact
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
The facts
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
Courts throw out claims when:
Safety devices were provided
The worker alone caused the fall
The worker refused safety rules
The job or worker wasn’t covered
The law is narrow. It only covers gravity accidents.
New York Labor Law §240(1) and case law
Myth
There’s no defense to a Scaffold Safety Law claim.
Fact
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
The facts
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
Courts throw out claims when:
Safety devices were provided
The worker alone caused the fall
The worker refused safety rules
The job or worker wasn’t covered
The law is narrow. It only covers gravity accidents.
New York Labor Law §240(1) and case law
Myth
There’s no defense to a Scaffold Safety Law claim.
Fact
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
The facts
Claims get dismissed for many reasons.
Courts throw out claims when:
Safety devices were provided
The worker alone caused the fall
The worker refused safety rules
The job or worker wasn’t covered
The law is narrow. It only covers gravity accidents.
New York Labor Law §240(1) and case law
Repeal doesn’t erase costs. It shifts them.
Stress tests estimate $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion a year in added accident costs, falling on injured workers, their families, Medicaid, Medicare and taxpayers.
Illustrative estimate. Weiss Ratings, 2026
$1.1–1.4B
Repeal doesn’t erase costs. It shifts them.
Stress tests estimate $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion a year in added accident costs, falling on injured workers, their families, Medicaid, Medicare and taxpayers.
Illustrative estimate. Weiss Ratings, 2026
$1.1–1.4B
Repeal doesn’t erase costs. It shifts them.
Stress tests estimate $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion a year in added accident costs, falling on injured workers, their families, Medicaid, Medicare and taxpayers.
Illustrative estimate. Weiss Ratings, 2026
$1.1–1.4B
Raise the standard for workers, as they raise the skyline.
Raise the standard for workers, as they raise the skyline.
Call your local official. Tell them to stand with everyday New York workers and protect the Scaffold Safety Law.
When you call, you can say:
“Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP code]. I’m calling to ask [Official’s name] to protect New York’s Scaffold Safety Law and oppose any rollback. Workers’ lives are not a cost to cut. Thank you.”
