Crain’s New York Quotes Big I NY in Scaffold Law Story
Big I New York told a major business publication this week about the problems the state’s so called “scaffold law” create for insurance producers and the clients they serve. Crain’s New York, a publication with a largely non-insurance readership, quoted Big I New York’s Vice-President of Government Relations Travis Wattie in an article published October 6th.
The article explored the potential for future reform of state Labor Law Sections 240 and 241. These sections were enacted to protect construction workers injured on the job. Courts have held construction project owners and contractors absolutely liable for injuries suffered from falls or being struck by falling objects. Many observers fault the laws for the exorbitant liability insurance premiums contractors pay.
Wattie said that while the topic of scaffold law reform was long considered off-limits, things may be changing. The article quoted him as noting that there is more momentum for reform now than there has been in a decade.
He also said many insurers will not insure New York contractors for liability because of the law. The marketplace is “challenging,” he said, with coverage difficult to obtain and cost-prohibitive if it is available.
Big I New York has been a leading voice for scaffold law reform on both the state and national levels. As a member of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, we have argued for reform for several years. In 2025 and 2026, we worked closely with U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R – 23, Niagara County) on his introduction of the Infrastructure Expansion Act. That bill would prohibit the imposition of absolute liability on contractors working on federally-funded projects.
The article is available on the Crain’s New York website for those who have a subscription.
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