The City Council heard testimony today on legislation dealing with construction site and crane safety today.

Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri testified about legislation aimed at improving safety at construction sites.

LiMandri also addressed the Kodiak crane on Washington Street that was dismantled after another Kodiak crane collapsed in the Upper East Side in May.

"We did take some additional precautions in the case of the four Kodiak cranes that were in use on the day of the 91st Street collapse," said LiMandri, "because what we wanted to make sure that they would be safe. And when we did that we found issues, structural issues, and we took it down."

Two other Kodiak cranes passed safety inspection, while the third is still being reviewed.

Earlier this month, LiMandri announced a major upgrade of the Building Code, the first in more than four decades. Structural safety regulations are being strengthened, new emergency systems have been put in place, and increased emphasis is being placed on risk to the public.

Twenty people have been killed in construction accidents so far this year, including seven in March's crane collapse in Turtle Bay. That's compared to 12 in all of last year.