The construction industry is no stranger to risk. Every day, workers face serious hazards—heavy equipment, dangerous heights, and unpredictable site conditions. In 2023 alone, New York City recorded 30 construction-related deaths – the highest number in over a decade. That grim statistic requires decisive legislative action: laws that would require high-definition video cameras on certain active construction sites.
As long-time advocates for workers’ rights and leaders in the fight for stronger workplace protection, we believe the time has come to treat cameras – both body-worn and fixed – as essential safety equipment. When used properly, cameras can safeguard workers, clarify disputes, enhance union oversight, and even reduce costs for employers who follow the rules. It’s a rare example of a solution that benefits everyone – and now it needs the full support of our state and local lawmakers.
Cameras as a Critical Safety Layer
State representatives have the authority to enact law addressing a long-standing demand of labor advocates: the mandatory use of clear, impartial, time-stamped video footage to document high-risk construction activity. We are calling for the introduction of a bill that requires video coverage in danger zones – worksites, passageways, scaffolded areas, crane operations, tunnel work, etc. – and mandates that footage be stored for 90 days and made available to the Department of Buildings (DOB) and the involved construction worker within 48 hours, upon request.
This is not about surveillance. It’s about life-saving documentation.
When injuries happen on a job site, the absence of video often means the absence of answers. Was a harness worn? Was a barrier missing? Were safety protocols followed? These are not abstract questions – they determine liability, compensation, and, for some families, closure. Cameras provide objective evidence that can resolve disputes swiftly and accurately. And even more importantly, they deter dangerous behavior before tragedy strikes. When workers and supervisors know there’s a record of their actions, they’re far more likely to follow safety rules, wear protective gear, and flag hazards in real time.
Fairer Claims for Workers – and Employers
We’ve both seen how devastating a workplace injury can be – not just physically and emotionally, but financially. For injured workers, getting compensation can turn into a drawn-out legal battle, especially if an employer contests the facts. That’s a burden no one should have to shoulder after a traumatic event.
Cameras help cut through the noise. They provide evidence that supports valid claims and speeds up resolution. Workers get the medical care and lost wages they deserve, without delays. Meanwhile, employers gain protection from false or exaggerated claims, and insurance carriers gain clarity in assessing liability. Everyone benefits from a system rooted in truth.
Empowering Union Oversight
For organized labor, this legislation is more than a safety tool – it’s an enforcement mechanism. Video footage provides union stewards and safety reps with critical documentation of dangerous practices, contract violations, and site mismanagement.
In cities like New York, where large-scale projects often include dozens of contractors and subcontractors, footage helps identify exactly who is failing to meet safety and labor standards. With union access to footage enshrined in oversight protocols, worker protection becomes enforceable – not just promised.
Cameras don’t weaken unions – they strengthen them. They give labor the tools to hold management accountable and demand better conditions backed by evidence and they shine a light on bad actors that consistently flout safety regulations in a cost-cutting effort to underbid unionized labor.
Lower Costs, Higher Standards
This is not just a moral issue – it’s a financial one. Safer jobsites mean fewer lawsuits, fewer delays, and fewer work stoppages. Employers who invest in video technology position themselves to save on insurance, demonstrate compliance to regulators, and prevent costly incidents before they happen.
Legislation by the City Council could reflect this balance. It would include fines of up to $30,000 for non-compliance and allows for “stop-work” orders when safety is compromised. But rather than resist, we urge employers to embrace proposed legislation. It’s a chance to modernize operations and show a real commitment to their workforce.
When cameras are used correctly – with clear privacy boundaries, access protocols, and collaboration from labor – they become an asset to management, not a threat.
Cameras Expose Worker Exploitation, Employer Tax Fraud and Other Misconduct
By creating a continuous visual record of jobsite activity, both fixed and body-worn cameras deter unsafe practices and make it harder for employers to conceal violations – such as allowing untrained workers to operate dangerous equipment, ignoring safety protocols, or mistreating vulnerable laborers. Some construction employers underreport their workforce or misclassify employees to dodge workers’ compensation premiums – a form of insurance and tax fraud. By paying workers off the books or falsely labeling them as independent contractors, these employers avoid costs while exposing laborers to dangerous conditions without coverage. Injured workers are often left with no support, while honest contractors can’t compete. The broader public pays the price too, as unpaid taxes and uncompensated injuries strain public systems. It’s a widespread scam that calls for stricter oversight, better enforcement, and more transparency on jobsites.
The Road Ahead
We can’t accept another year like 2023. We cannot normalize preventable deaths. Cameras alone won’t solve everything – they are not a substitute for training, inspections, or proper equipment – but they are an essential part of a modern construction safety strategy.
We call on labor leaders, industry stakeholders, and elected officials across the country to take note of what should become common practice across the construction industry. Cameras on construction sites shouldn’t be the exception – they should be the rule. This is not a partisan issue. It’s common sense.
Every worker deserves to know that if something goes wrong, the facts will be preserved. Every employer deserves a clear record when accusations arise. And every city deserves construction projects that are transparent, accountable, and safe.
The tools exist and the public supports them. Now it’s up to lawmakers, unions, and advocates alike to weed-out the bad actors and make jobsite justice a reality.
Nicholas Liakas is a construction accident attorney at Liakas Law, P.C., a family-run, community-based firm in New York City focusing on labor law and workers’ compensation disputes. For more information, call (212) 937-7765.
