NEW YORK, NY February 20, 2008 —Dangerous scaffolds and sidewalk sheds have the city cracking down on contractors who don't build them properly. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: The Department of Buildings inspectors will conduct a citywide sweep of 1500 supported scaffolds and sidewalk sheds, beginning today. Information gathered will then be used to figure out what contractors are doing wrong. DOB commissioner Patricia Lancaster says the agency is interested in spotting trends:

LANCASTER: If for instance we find out that attachment to a building is an issue throughout supported scaffolds then perhaps we'll have our forensic engineer focus on that and let people know how they could do that better.

REPORTER: Contractors not following rules will be issued stop work orders and could be fined anywhere from five to $25,000. The city says a recent spate of accidents among construction workers has prompted the extra attention. For wnyc, I'm Cindy Rodriguez