New York Construction Report staff write
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) began an unannounced enforcement sweep across the five boroughs on Dec. 22 to address a “concerning recent rise” in construction site fatalities.
While overall worksite injuries in the city dropped by 32% through the first 11 months of 2025, officials reported that fatal incidents have trended upward this year. The “Getting Workers Home Safe for the Holidays” campaign involves inspectors visiting active sites to verify code compliance and distribute educational materials on fall protection and site safety.
“Our message with this sweep is simple — every worker deserves to get home safe to their family this holiday season,” the DOB stated in its year-end Buildings News Update bulletin.
The sweep coincides with several major regulatory shifts taking effect this month. On Dec. 21, the 2025 New York City Electrical Code (Local Law 128 of 2024) officially went into full effect. Additionally, the DOB reminded property owners that Dec. 31 is the final deadline to submit 2024 Local Law 97 emissions reports and post updated Building Energy Efficiency Rating labels.
