Bill > S02709

This bill provides comprehensive protections for telecommunications tower technicians by establishing new safety and reporting requirements for procurement contracts involving tower services in New York State. The legislation mandates that tower technicians (workers who install, repair, and maintain telecommunications towers) receive specific safety trainings during work hours without losing pay, including courses on OSHA standards, first aid, radiofrequency radiation awareness, chemical classification, bloodborne pathogen protection, climbing, rescue techniques, rigging, equipment operation, and work platform safety. Bidders for telecommunications contracts must submit detailed information about their workforce, including a list of contractors and subcontractors, job titles, wages, employment status, and any previous labor law violations. The bill recognizes the inherently dangerous nature of tower technician work, noting that 166 workers in the cell tower industry died between 2003 and 2022, and aims to improve worker safety and accountability in an industry with complex, multi-layered employment structures. The proposed law applies to contracts involving state-owned towers and assets, reflecting New York State's interest in ensuring proper maintenance and worker protection. The bill includes a severability clause, meaning that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest of the legislation can remain in effect.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2709