Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI) – Boston, MA

Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI)

The Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI), operating under the Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL), is the state agency responsible for setting and enforcing standards for the safety of the public in the built environment. Located in the McCormack Building at One Ashburton Place, this office provides administrative support to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS). It is the primary authority for issuing Construction Supervisor Licenses (CSL), which are mandatory for supervising construction on one- and two-family homes and smaller commercial buildings in Massachusetts.

Licensing and Regulation

• Construction Supervisor License (CSL): Manages the testing and licensing of unrestricted, restricted, and specialty construction supervisors.
• Building Code: The BBRS promulgates the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), ensuring uniform construction standards across the state.
• Inspections: Oversees the inspection of elevators, amusement rides, and tramways to ensure operational safety.
• Hoisting: Issues licenses for the operation of hoisting machinery, such as excavators and cranes.

Visiting the Office

The office is situated on the 13th floor (Room 1301) of the McCormack Building. Visitors must pass through security screening at the building entrance. While the office handles administrative processing, many services, such as license renewals and exam registration, are now managed through online portals or third-party testing vendors like PSI.