June 24, 2002—The City of Chicago recently proposed a new scaffolding ordinance that would require building owners to obtain permits from the building commissioner before engaging in scaffolding work on buildings within in the central business district over forty stories. A separate permit would be required for each building, and the permit would be effective for one year from the date of issuance. The proposed ordinance also calls for the scaffolding operator to acquire a structural engineer’s certification and to obtain $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Every six months, the operator would be required to certify that the scaffolding is being properly operated and maintained.
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)/Chicago has expressed concerns over the proposed ordinance. One concern is that structural engineers have not traditionally been involved in scaffolding projects. To meet the requirements of the proposed ordinance, they would have to become familiar with multiple manufacturer specifications, and their reviews could take up to three weeks. Another concern is the $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Although this amount might be reasonable for large companies, BOMA/Chicago feels smaller businesses could have a difficult time obtaining such coverage, especially if they have multiple projects in progress.
Based on a report from BOMA International
