Last year, we published a blog post about a law that has long been the topic of controversy amongst construction workers, lawmakers, and insurance companies. This law is the New York Scaffold Law, a provision that imposes absolute liability for elevation-related injuries on contractors and property owners engaged in construction, repair, or demolition work. Although this does not replace the need for New York Contractors Insurance, the law does promote safety and provide protection for your contractors.
Why does the Scaffold Law need reform, according to many property and business owners? Reform would give them the chance to defend themselves in court when an employee’s own negligence is a contributing factor in an accident. As reported recently by The Record News, labor unions have backed a bill that will examine this controversial Scaffold Law that will force insurance companies to disclose costs related to the worker-injury measure.
The construction industry remains the most fatal sector in America, as noted by Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D-Queens), one of the sponsors of the Construction Insurance Transparency Act of 2015. In addition to preventing insurance companies from pulling out of the construction markets all together, proponents of the reform want to incorporate a standard of comparative negligence, requiring a jury or arbiter to consider whether the liability of the defendants should be reduced for cases in which the worker’s actions attributed to injury.
At Provident Protection Plus Insurance Agency, we look to the construction industry to build and renovate our homes, erect office buildings and high-rises, develop shopping centers and so much more. We understand your unique Construction Insurance needs, and provide a complete suite of insurance products and services to the broad contractor segment. Please contact us today at (888) 990-0526 to learn more about this coverage as well as our other Manhattan Business Insurance products to meet your needs.