Section 202. Protection of the public and of persons engaged at window cleaning and cleaning of exterior surfaces of buildings

The  owner,
  lessee,  agent and manager of every public building and every contractor
  involved shall provide such safe means for the cleaning of  the  windows
  and  of  exterior  surfaces  of  such  building  as  may be required and
  approved by the board of  standards  and  appeals.  The  owner,  lessee,
  agent,  manager  or superintendent of any such public building and every
  contractor involved shall not  require,  permit,  suffer  or  allow  any
  window  or  exterior  surface of such building to be cleaned unless such
  means are provided to enable such work to be done in a safe  manner  for
  the  prevention of accidents and for the protection of the public and of
  persons engaged in such work in conformity with the requirements of this
  chapter and the rules of the board of standards and  appeals.  A  person
  engaged  at  cleaning  windows or exterior surfaces of a public building
  shall use the safety devices provided for his protection. Every employer
  and contractor involved shall comply with this section and the rules  of
  the  board and shall require his employee, while engaged in cleaning any
  window or exterior surface of a public building, to  use  the  equipment
  and  safety  devices  required by this chapter and rules of the board of
  standards and appeals.
    The provisions of  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  (1)  multiple
  dwellings  six stories or less in height located anywhere in this state;
  nor to (2) any building three stories or less in height in cities, towns
  or villages having a population of less than forty thousand; nor to  (3)
  the  windows  or exterior surfaces of any building which may be exempted
  under any rule adopted by the board of standards and appeals.
    The board of standards and appeals may grant  variations  pursuant  to
  the   provisions  of  section  thirty  of  this  chapter.  All  existing
  variations heretofore made by the board  relating  to  the  cleaning  of
  windows  are  hereby  validated  and  continued in full force and effect
  until amended or terminated by the board.
    The board of standards and appeals may make rules  to  effectuate  the
  purposes of this section.
    Notwithstanding  any  other  law  or regulation, local or general, the
  provisions of this section and the  rules  issued  thereunder  shall  be
  applicable  exclusively  throughout the state and the commissioner shall
  have exclusive authority to enforce this section and  the  rules  issued
  thereunder.