Approved safe means

Definition

New York's rule barring the cleaning of a public building's windows until approved safe means are in place.

Why It Matters

New York titles its window cleaning statute for the protection of the public as well as the crew. The owner, lessee, agent and manager of every public building, and every contractor involved, must provide the safe means the board of standards and appeals requires and approves. None of them may require, permit or allow a window to be cleaned until those means are provided, so a contractor that cleans without them is in breach itself. The statute does not reach multiple dwellings of six stories or less, buildings of three stories or less in places under forty thousand people, or buildings the board exempts. It applies exclusively throughout the state, enforced by the labor commissioner alone. The federal anchor letter is about rope work, and this asks about the building whatever method the crew uses. A covered building without approved means is an account the crew may not lawfully work, whoever signed. Ask which accounts sit above the exemptions and what approved means each one has.