Written by Joey Rosenberg
Because of Local Law 196 of 2017, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) requires construction and demolition workers at most major worksites in the five boroughs to have 40 hours of Site Safety Training (SST) and an SST Worker card. Supervisors must have 62 hours of SST Supervisor training and an SST Supervisor card.
Local Law 196 applies to all NYC jobsites with a Site Safety Plan. Most workers at these jobsites must carry an SST card to prove that they are up to date on SST requirements. Without valid proof of their SST training, they cannot enter the jobsite. In addition, employers can face steep fines if their workers do not comply with Local Law 196 training requirements.
After you complete your required number of training hours, you can apply for your SST card. OSHA Education Center makes it simple and convenient to finish your training 100% online and order your official SST card.
How to Get a Site Safety Training (SST) Card
You can take several training paths to get an SST card. The courses you need to take will vary depending on your job title and past training experience. For example, SST course requirements differ for current workers and new entrants to NYC construction.
Both current workers and new entrants must complete 40 hours of DOB-approved Site Safety Training before they can apply for an SST Worker card. Supervisors need to finish 62-hours of SST to earn an SST Supervisor card.
OSHA Education Center accepts training certificates from any DOB-approved course provider.
Local Law 196 Training Deadlines
The NYC Department of Buildings set the full compliance deadline for Local Law 196 to March 1, 2021. By this date, workers needed 40 hours of Site Safety Training and an SST Worker card. In August 2020, the DOB extended its original full compliance deadline, which was formerly set for Sept. 1, 2020.
To give workers and supervisors enough time to meet Local Law 196 training requirements, the DOB set a series of deadlines for workers to complete their training hours. The first phase, which had a deadline of March 1, 2018, required workers to complete at least 10 hours of training. This could be satisfied with a 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA Outreach Construction course.
| Phase 2 Deadline: December 1, 2019 (Limited SST or Supervisor SST) | Phase 3 Deadline: March 1, 2021 (Full SST) |
|---|---|
Workers with an OSHA 10 card needed:
| Workers with an OSHA 10 card needed:
|
New workers starting after December 1 needed:
| |
Supervisors needed:
|
Once you complete your required training hours, you can apply for your SST card. OSHA Education Center can verify training certificates from any DOB-approved training provider.
Who Needs Site Safety Training?
The new training requirements of Local Law 196 apply to construction and demolition workers at most worksites in New York City.
You will be required to complete the additional training if you work at a location with a Site Safety Plan. That includes jobsites with a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager.
Check the DOB Site Safety Construction Map to find out if the new training requirements apply to you. Simply follow the link to the map and enter the address of your worksite. If the jobsite shows up on the map, you'll need SST.
Supervisors that need additional training include:
- Concrete Safety Managers
- Competent Persons
- Construction Superintendents
- Site Safety Managers
- Site Safety Coordinators
Workers and supervisors need Site Safety Training regardless of whether they are a general contractor or subcontractor. Some construction positions are exempt from the new SST requirements.
| Need Site Safety Training | Exempt from Site Safety Training |
|---|---|
| Construction workers | Building site owners |
| Demolition workers | Project Managers |
| Concrete Safety Managers (CSM) | Professional Engineers (PE) |
| Construction Superintendents (CS) | Registered Architects (RA) |
| Competent Persons | Developers |
| Site Safety Managers (SSM) | Delivery persons |
| Site Safety Coordinators (SSC) | Construction Managers |
| Journeypersons | Flag Persons |
| Forepersons | General Contractors |
| Employees of DOB licensees or registrants | DOB licensees and registrants that are not CS, SSC, SSM or CSM |
| Concrete testing laboratories/concrete inspectors | |
| Filing representatives | |
| Security officers | |
| Special inspectors | |
| Service technicians | |
| Consultants | |
| Workers at jobsites that only include minor alterations to or the new construction of 1-, 2- or 3-family homes |
Note that any worker from the exempt list above must receive the appropriate training if he or she also serves as a Site Safety Manager, Site Safety Coordinator, Concrete Safety Manager, Construction Superintendent or a Competent Person designated by a Construction Superintendent.
Licensees don't need Site Safety Training, but employees working under their direct and continuing supervision do require additional training under Local Law 196.
If you are unsure whether the new training requirements apply to you, email the DOB for clarification. You can send your questions to LocalLaw196@buildings.nyc.gov.
How Do I Satisfy Full Site Safety Training Requirements?
Current workers — who were already employed in the NYC construction industry during the DOB's rollout of its updated Site Safety Training requirements — are required to have a 40-hour SST Worker card.
New entrants to NYC construction, which includes any workers who entered the industry after December 1, 2019, need to take a 10-hour OSHA course before they start the job. Within six months of starting work, they must complete an additional 30 hours of training to qualify for an SST Worker card.
Both lists of course requirements below provide the 40 hours of training needed for an SST Worker card. Option 1 is the most convenient training path for current workers, and option 2 is designed for new entrants.
Option 1: For OSHA 30 Cardholders
Option 2: For OSHA 10 Cardholders
- 10-Hour OSHA Class
- 8-Hour Fall Prevention
- 8-Hour Site Safety
- 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User and Refresher
- 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness
- 4 hours of SST General Electives
- 4 hours of SST Special Electives
SST General Elective Options Include:
- SST 1-Hour Electrocution Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Fire Protection and Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Stairways and Ladders
- SST 1-Hour Tools — Hand and Power
SST Special Elective Options Include:
Current workers may choose Option 1 or Option 2 to earn their SST card.
How Do I Satisfy Supervisor and Limited Site Safety Training Requirements?
You can meet Limited Site Safety Training requirements in several ways. The options available to workers and supervisors are outlined below.
Workers
Construction and demolition workers with an OSHA 10 card need 30 additional hours of training. You can complete one of the training options below to earn an OSHA 30 card or Limited SST card. Both cards are acceptable proof that you received adequate training.
Option 1: OSHA 30-Hour Class
You can satisfy all required training hours for the Limited SST deadline by completing an OSHA Outreach 30-Hour Construction course. This training program, which you can complete 100% online, provides an official OSHA 30 card from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Option 2: OSHA 10-Hour Class and 20 Hours of Additional Training
OSHA 10 cardholders can earn a Limited SST card by completing 20 additional hours of DOB-approved training.
The training courses needed to earn your card include:
- OSHA 10-Hour Class
- 8-Hour Fall Prevention
- 8-Hour Site Safety OR 4 hours of SST General Electives AND 4 hours of SST Special Electives
- 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User and Refresher
SST General Elective Options Include:
- SST 1-Hour Electrocution Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Fire Protection and Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Stairways and Ladders
- SST 1-Hour Tools — Hand and Power
SST Special Elective Options Include:
Option 3: 100-Hour Training Program Approved by DOB
You can also meet Limited SST requirements with a program that includes at least 100 hours of training in technical subjects related to the construction trade, such as an apprenticeship program registered with the New York State Department of Labor.
To qualify, these programs must be approved by OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor, the New York State Department of Labor or the New York State Department of Education.
Supervisors
Supervisors at NYC construction sites must complete 62 hours of training and earn a Supervisor SST card.
The training courses required for a Supervisor SST card include:
- 2-Hour Pre-Task Safety Meeting
- 2 hours of SST General Electives
- 2 hours of SST Special Electives
SST General Elective Options Include:
- SST 1-Hour Electrocution Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Fire Protection and Prevention
- SST 1-Hour Stairways and Ladders
- SST 1-Hour Tools — Hand and Power
SST Special Elective Options Include:
- SST 1-Hour Welding and Cutting
- SST 1-Hour Excavations
- SST 1-Hour Scaffolds — Suspended
- SST 1-Hour Concrete and Masonry
Training you received within the past five years can be applied toward your Site Safety Training requirements. If you completed a required course topic more than five years ago, you may take Prior Experience training to receive credit for that course. Prior Experience training includes 4-Hour Fall Prevention and 4-Hour Supported Scaffold User & Refresher.
Can I Receive SST Credits for Other Safety Training Courses I've Taken?
Yes. The DOB allows workers and supervisors to apply certain OSHA courses and safety training courses toward their SST requirements.
For example, the 8-Hour Rigging Worker Refresher course provides credit for the following SST courses:
- 1-Hour Handling Heavy Materials & Proper Lifting Techniques (General Elective)
- 1-Hour Hoisting & Rigging (General Elective)
- 1-Hour Materials Handling, Storage, Use & Disposal (General Elective)
- 1-Hour Cranes, Derricks, Hoists & Conveyors (Special Elective)
- 1-Hour Flag Person (Special Elective)
- 1-Hour Personnel Lifts/Aerial Lifts/Scissor Lifts Safety (Special Elective)
The DOB will only provide SST credit for approved courses that you completed in the past five years. For a full list of course equivalents, refer to the DOB-Approved Site Safety Training Course Equivalent PDF.
What Happens if I Miss an SST Deadline?
While the DOB does not issue citations to workers, your employer will not allow you to enter the jobsite without valid proof of your Site Safety Training.
That's because the DOB conducts random site inspections and issues costly penalties to site owners, permit holders and the employers of untrained workers. If untrained workers are found at a construction site, the DOB will issue civil penalties as high as $5,000 for each worker present.
Receiving the training you need before the Local Law 196 deadlines is the only way to ensure you can continue working without interruption.