New York City Council
Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
Sep 25, 2024
·
10:00 AM
42 min
Summary
A hearing on establishing an online public database of workplace fatalities in New York City.
Discussions focused on:
- The importance of timely, comprehensive data on workplace deaths
- Identifying dangerous industries and practices
- Improving employer accountability
- Honoring fallen workers
- Informing policy to prevent future fatalities.
Debates centered on the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection's role in managing this database and concerns about duplicating existing federal/state databases.
Features testimony from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), labor unions, worker advocacy groups, elected officials, and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Julie Menin opens hearing on workplace fatality reporting bill
Council Member Julie Menin, Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, opens the hearing on Intro 865, which would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to …
0:00:32
·
66 sec
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection opposes workplace fatality database bill
Carlos Ortiz, Commissioner for External Affairs at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), testifies on Intro 865, which would require DCWP to create an online public database …
0:01:53
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172 sec
Inclusion of independent contractors in workplace fatality databases
Council Member Julie Menin inquires about the inclusion of independent contractors, such as delivery workers employed by third-party apps, in existing federal and state databases related to workplace fatalities. Commissioner …
0:04:54
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47 sec
Ensuring user-friendliness of the proposed workplace fatality database
Council Member Julie Menin asks about ensuring the user-friendliness of the proposed database of workplace fatalities. Commissioner Carlos Ortiz discusses DCWP's commitment to transparency and accessibility of public information. - …
0:05:42
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69 sec
DCWP's concerns about expanding beyond their core mission
Commissioner Carlos Ortiz expresses concerns about DCWP expanding into public health surveillance and reporting. Council Member Julie Menin argues that workplace safety is a key worker protection issue that falls …
0:06:52
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88 sec
Debate on DCWP's role in worker protection
Commissioner Carlos Ortiz elaborates on his perspective regarding the scope of worker protection and DCWP's role. He emphasizes the importance of defining the boundaries of worker protection to ensure the …
0:08:21
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45 sec
Challenges in real-time updates for the proposed database
Council Member Julie Menin inquires about ensuring real-time updates for the proposed workplace fatality database. Commissioner Carlos Ortiz expresses concerns about DCWP's ability to manage this task and discusses potential …
0:09:07
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101 sec
Conclusion and acknowledgment of upcoming testimony
Council Member Julie Menin concludes the discussion with Commissioner Carlos Ortiz and acknowledges upcoming testimony from supporters of the bill. She requests that DCWP representatives stay to hear the testimony. …
0:10:48
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36 sec
Testimony by Brendan Griffith, Chief of Staff and Mobilizing Director of New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO on Intro 865
Brendan Griffith, representing the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, testified in support of Intro 865, which would create a public database of workplace fatalities in NYC. He emphasized …
0:13:10
·
166 sec
Testimony by Mike McGuire, Political Director of Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) in New York City
Mike McGuire, Political Director of LIUNA in NYC, testifies in support of Intro 865, which would create a public database of workplace fatalities in NYC. He draws on his experience …
0:16:03
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5 min
Council member inquires about the importance of timely workplace fatality data
Council Member Julie Menin asks about the significance of having real-time data on workplace fatalities and how it would be utilized. The speaker, Mike McGuire, responds by emphasizing the importance …
0:21:09
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77 sec
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa introduces Intro 865 on workplace fatality reporting
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa introduces Intro 865, also known as the Worker Fatality Bill, which aims to create a public database of workplace fatalities in New York City. …
0:22:31
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167 sec
Testimony by Michael Tracey, Vice President of Uniformed Fire Officers Association, on Intro 865
Michael Tracey, Vice President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, testifies in support of Intro 865, which would create an online public database of workplace fatalities in NYC. He explains …
0:26:00
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121 sec
Testimony by Enrique Valdez Gonzalez, Member of the Public (In Spanish)
Enrique Valdez Gonzalez, a member of the public, provides testimony in Spanish.
0:28:07
·
171 sec
Testimony by Armary Perez, Director of Construction Division at Workers' Justice Project
Armary Perez, representing the Workers' Justice Project, testifies in support of Intro 865, which would create an online database of workplace fatalities in New York City. She emphasizes the importance …
0:32:15
·
3 min
Testimony by Jessica Ramos, State Senator from New York State Senate
State Senator Jessica Ramos testified in support of Intro 865, a bill to create a worker fatality database in New York City. She emphasized the importance of collecting data on …
0:35:56
·
171 sec
Testimony by Charlene Obernauer, Executive Director of New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), on Workplace Fatality Database
Charlene Obernauer, representing NYCOSH, testified in full support of Intro 865, which would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to establish an online public database of worker fatalities …
0:40:23
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124 sec
