Phila. City Council passes tougher demolition rules

A five-bill package intended to strengthen the city's regulation of demolition practices, impose more requirements on contractors and demand closer supervision by city inspectors won unanimous passage in City Council Thursday.

Many of the changes such as requiring safety plans as part of an application for any demolition permit - have already been implemented by the Nutter administration, spurred by the building collapse last June that killed six people at 22nd and Market streets.

Other elements of the legislation include:

Experience requirements and safety training for all demolition contractors, with enhanced background checks on their work history and finances.

A requirement that all demolition workers complete a 10-hour safety course developed for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Mandatory site inspections by the city's Department of Licenses and Inspection.

Mandatory safety training for city inspectors and their supervisors, and a requirement that contractors hire independent safety monitors for their work sites.

"All of these things will come together, along with some money in the budget, that will help us be a little safer," said Curtis Jones Jr., chairman of the Council committee that developed the legislation.

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Phila. City Council passes tougher demolition rules