Construction industry fears crackdown

Leaders of the city’s construction industry say they worry that a harsh safety crackdown will needlessly delay projects and force layoffs. As Construction Safety Week draws attention to this year’s 13 on-site deaths — more than last year’s total — Robert LiMandri, the acting buildings commissioner, said the city is “not going to compromise on safety.” At the Goldman Sachs headquarters site across from the World Trade Center site, one of five tower cranes has been shut down for 18 days, and about 35 workers have been laid off. Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers’ Association, has said the city’s unionized construction sites are the nation’s safest, and says the city should hold off on new safety rules until recent accident investigations are completed.