Construction Crane Reform
In the wake of two tower crane accidents that have left nine people dead in the past four months, the city of New York has been tackling the issues of incompetence and corruption within the construction field, particularly that of crane operators. Some call the accidents “flukes”, saying that they were equipment and not operator related, but the incidents have shed light on years of issues within the construction community that need to be addressed for the safety of all. But where exactly do these crane operators come from?
Usually, a tower crane is supplied without insurance or an operator. Contractors generally must find their own operators. On union jobs, that means finding an operator from Local 14, which also represents the operators of heavy equipment like bulldozers and backhoes. Federal authorities say the union has long been controlled by the Genovese and Colombo crime families.
With organized crime connections to crane operators and the union that represents them, safety is obviously not the first and biggest concern. Many contractors found that when crane operators from Local 14 reported for work, they were unable to actually operate any crane that was on the site. Even those with felony records were still able to apply and receive a license.
Those men were able to renew their licenses at least once since their felony convictions. Among them is Lawrence Persico, the son of Carmine Persico, the Colombo crime family boss. The younger Mr. Persico, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to collecting more than $750,000 in no-show jobs, is now out of prison and still holds a Class A crane license.
How and when so many people with questionable backgrounds secured crane licenses remains unclear. One F.B.I. report from 2003 suggests that union members were able to obtain the city licensing test and answers, although the report does not say when.
So what does this mean for the city of New York as far as making sure construction sites are safe for all involved? City inspector numbers have risen from four to ten, and they are mixing the numbers with not only crane operators, but structural engineers and inspectors.
“We are raising the standards of the construction industry and this department to an unprecedented level,” Mr. Sclafani [Building Departmant spokesman] said in a statement. “The increase in construction-related accidents has demanded a call for change and we are working hard to implement that change.”
