An Act relative to increased safety standards in the construction industry
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 7/6/2026 | Senate | Accompanied a new draft, see S3134↗ |
| 6/4/2026 | Senate | Reporting date extended to Friday July 31, 2026 |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate | Reporting date extended to Saturday February 28, 2026 |
| 12/24/2025 | Senate | Reporting date extended to Saturday January 31, 2026 |
| 9/3/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/09/2025 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in A-1 and virtual |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J25 | Accompanied | — |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| S3134 | An Act relative to increased safety standards in the construction industry | Active |
Notwithstanding any or special law to the contrary, the appropriate agencies of the commonwealth shall develop regulations to increase standards that address safety issues in the construction industry; Area of review for regulations shall include but not be limited to the following: Craft workers • 40 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-huor refresher completed on an annual basis Craft foreperson • 62 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher competed on an annual bases Site safety manager licensing • For any project over 50,000 square feet a Site Safety Manager is required to be on-site at all times • To be a site safety manager you must have: (i) Minimum 5 years construction safety experience (ii) 40 hours SSM course (iii) Safety experience background check (iv) Knowledge test: 80% correct to pass (v)Physical exam for fitness (vi) 3 year refresher Concrete, steel, excavation, façade • 62-hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher completed on an annual bases Site safety and demolition plan review and enforcement • Require major building and demolition projects to prepare and keep current a site safety plan. The plan, and subsequent updates, should be reviewed and approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and is required to be on site for inspector review Scaffolding • Minimum requirements for the design, permitting, erection, maintenance, and disassembly of supported and suspended scaffolds. • Standards include stamped and filed drawings by a licenses design professional, use of licensed master rigger for erection and dismantling of suspended scaffolds, worker training, debris netting and scaffold access Concrete formwork • Minimum standards for the design, erection, and inspection of concrete formwork • Site specific drawings to be prepared by registered design professional • Engineered designs submitted for review/ approval and on site for inspectors Protection of unenclosed perimeter façade • Minimum requirements for perimeter protection prior to façade installation • Permitted drawing by licensed design professional, requires vertical and horizontal safety netting or better to be installed and maintained at all unenclosed perimeters Enhancement of sidewalk shed public protection • Minimum standards for the design, permitting, erection, inspection, and maintenance of sidewalk shed including adjoining property protection • Mandatory sidewalk sheds and site scaffolding for all projects in the Boston area Inspection and enforcement • Provide additional resources to inspection enforcement agencies to hold all General Contractors to elevated safety standards • These city and state workers who have the authority to inspect project for safety compliance per the required documentation and permitting Retain experienced inspectors • Reclassify local building inspectors as Massachusetts public safety official to help retain experienced experts in high-risk Boston environments
Notwithstanding any or special law to the contrary, the appropriate agencies of the commonwealth shall develop regulations to increase standards that address safety issues in the construction industry; Area of review for regulations shall include but not be limited to the following: Craft workers • 40 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-huor refresher completed on an annual basis Craft foreperson • 62 hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher competed on an annual bases Site safety manager licensing • For any project over 50,000 square feet a Site Safety Manager is required to be on-site at all times • To be a site safety manager you must have: (i) Minimum 5 years construction safety experience (ii) 40 hours SSM course (iii) Safety experience background check (iv) Knowledge test: 80% correct to pass (v)Physical exam for fitness (vi) 3 year refresher Concrete, steel, excavation, façade • 62-hours of safety training by an approved training provider, with a 10-hour refresher completed on an annual bases Site safety and demolition plan review and enforcement • Require major building and demolition projects to prepare and keep current a site safety plan. The plan, and subsequent updates, should be reviewed and approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and is required to be on site for inspector review Scaffolding • Minimum requirements for the design, permitting, erection, maintenance, and disassembly of supported and suspended scaffolds. • Standards include stamped and filed drawings by a licenses design professional, use of licensed master rigger for erection and dismantling of suspended scaffolds, worker training, debris netting and scaffold access Concrete formwork • Minimum standards for the design, erection, and inspection of concrete formwork • Site specific drawings to be prepared by registered design professional • Engineered designs submitted for review/ approval and on site for inspectors Protection of unenclosed perimeter façade • Minimum requirements for perimeter protection prior to façade installation • Permitted drawing by licensed design professional, requires vertical and horizontal safety netting or better to be installed and maintained at all unenclosed perimeters Enhancement of sidewalk shed public protection • Minimum standards for the design, permitting, erection, inspection, and maintenance of sidewalk shed including adjoining property protection • Mandatory sidewalk sheds and site scaffolding for all projects in the Boston area Inspection and enforcement • Provide additional resources to inspection enforcement agencies to hold all General Contractors to elevated safety standards • These city and state workers who have the authority to inspect project for safety compliance per the required documentation and permitting Retain experienced inspectors • Reclassify local building inspectors as Massachusetts public safety official to help retain experienced experts in high-risk Boston environments