New York, NY —

Fatal construction accidents, including two recent crane collapses have raised concerns about the safety at construction sites. As the city tries to crack down, construction companies and developers are planning to form their own safety council.

WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: Big name companies such as Bovis Lend Lease and Tishman Construction are backing the initiative. The group is supposed to create a forum where builders can share their best safety practices as well as examine how construction is done in other countries. The safety council also plans to create a database of crane maintenance information.

The city is also trying to do the same thing. Ed Malloy is from the Building and Construction Trades Council:

MALLOY: We believe we are better able to get that information and the city would then not have to go through a bureaucratic process of finding it out themselves.

REPORTER: Industry leaders say they have more leverage with crane owners since they are the ones who pay to use their equipment. In a written statement, the Department of Buildings said the safety council was a step in the right direction.