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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oct. 23 issued a directive for OSHA compliance personnel on how to enforce its 2010 standard for construction cranes and derricks. The directive, which covers jobsites where power-operated equipment covered by Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction are present, provides guidance for OSHA inspectors on how to conduct site visits, interpret the rule, and decide when to issue citations.  

At ABC’s second annual Industrial Users Summit, merit shop contractors discussed issues regarding labor, safety, productivity and working with the client with some of the top industrial construction users in the country. 

Amanda Novak, the human resources manager for ABC member company The Tri-M Group, LLC, testified on behalf of the merit shop construction industry during a field hearing about what employers need from educators and state officials to fix the workforce issues we face. 

Does your company employ craft trainees and apprentices who excel in their trade?  Have you and your employees participated in a craft competition at your local ABC chapter? Our National Craft Championships is welcoming those who want to take their skills to the next level and showcase what they can do on a national stage. If you want your employees to show what your company is about –growing a skilled workforce and delivering the best work—then submit an intent to compete form and claim your spot in the 2015 National Craft Championships.

At our Construction Management Career Fair on Nov. 11 in Miami Beach, Fla., we’re giving our members the exclusive opportunity to recruit their next top performers from a group of top-tier students representing areas all over the country under one roof. Booths must be reserved by Oct. 31, so be sure to complete your application today.

ABC strongly opposed a new executive order (EO) that will harm federal contractors, taxpayers and government procurement officials at an Oct. 13, 2014, White House listening session with major employer association representatives, businesses and Obama administration officials.

Merit shop contractors give 100% on their jobs, creating innovative and outstanding projects, and now you have the chance to show the construction industry how hard your team has worked. By submitting an application for the 25th Annual National Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards, your company and project team can join the hundreds of ABC member companies who have been recognized on a national scale for their work.

For merit shop business leaders, ABC’s first annual Peer Group Conference will offer a chance to learn from and work with like-minded business owners to advance the success and profitability of your company. Attendees of the conference, both existing peer group members and those interested in joining, will have the opportunity to take part in topic-based education sessions, roundtables and networking events. 

For merit shop business leaders, ABC’s first annual Peer Group Conference will offer a chance to learn from and work with like-minded business owners to advance the success and profitability of your company. Attendees of the conference, both existing peer group members and those interested in joining, will have the opportunity to take part in topic-based education sessions, roundtables and networking events. 

On Oct. 14, ABC submitted comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting it withdraw a proposed rule and supplemental notice that would require employers to electronically submit detailed injury and illness records to the agency. For the first time, OSHA plans to make this information publically available on the Internet through a new searchable database and use the data for enforcement purposes.

By 2020, the Millennial generation will make up roughly 50% of the U.S. workforce, changing the way we do business and also the way we retain our best employees. Mix that with the fact that 65% of millennials say opportunity for personal development was the most influential factor in selecting their current job and it becomes obvious that we need to be engaging our young professionals and offering them ways to grow both personally and professionally within the association. 

Our craft instructors have a huge impact on how well-prepared the nation’s future construction workers are and their dedication to building a skilled workforce should not go unnoticed. To thank our instructors across the country for their hard work, ABC will award an instructor that teaches at an ABC Chapter, training affiliate or member company with $10,000 and the title of Craft Instructor of the Year.

FedEx, an ABC Business Partner, is giving our members a chance to win prizes including a trip to the 2015 Pro Bowl in Glendale, Az. When you enroll in the FedEx Advantage® discount program you’re automatically entered in the FedEx Advantage 2015 Pro Bowl Package sweepstakes. In addition, every eligible shipment you make counts as an additional sweepstakes entry, with a maximum of 50 additional entries. Members who are already enrolled in the program can register as well. 

National Safety Excellence Award (NSEA) applications are due Oct. 31 and can be downloaded on ABC’s website. All 2014 Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Diamond and Platinum recipients are eligible to apply and there is no fee to participate. New STEP Gold recipients may also apply for the NSEA by submitting the NSEA Gold application and $450 application fee. ABC members who do not have STEP status can learn more about STEP on ABC’s website. 

Next week, ABC contractors will be meeting with construction users from the industrial sector to discuss best practices on critical issues that affect the planning and delivery of construction projects. The second annual Industrial Users Summit will be held Oct. 16-17 in San Antonio, Texas, and will focus on creating a forum that allows both industry users and ABC member contractors to learn from each other. 

During the inaugural P3s for Public Buildings Summit Nov. 17-18 in Miami, Fla., the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) and the Performance Based Building Coalition (PBBC) will team up to educate stakeholders about developing and financing  public-private partnerships (P3s) for public buildings,  understanding federal policy challenges and solutions, forecasting the future of the P3 marketplace and highlighting specific examples of successful P3 projects.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2015, 2009-2014 Autodesk licenses will no longer have the option to be upgraded and new licenses will have to be purchased in the future at full price. Through Autodesk’s new promotion, companies who currently have 2009-2014 licenses can save 10% off of the upgrade price until Oct. 24.  

An updated summary of employer requirements included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is available for ABC members in a reference document provided by Washington Council Ernst & Young. The document is available on the Health Care Law Employer Toolkit (login required) on ABC’s website.

On Oct. 7, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued a final rule to implement Executive Order 13658, which would establish an hourly minimum wage of $10.10 for workers performing on covered federal construction and service contracts. 

OSHA issued a final rule on September 26 extending the compliance deadline for employers to ensure that crane operators are certified by an OSHA-recognized accredited certification body. The deadline has been extended by three years to November 10, 2017. This extension will continue the current employer duties to ensure crane operators are competent to operate a crane safely.

Wurster Construction Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a member of the Indiana/Kentucky Chapter; Cycle Construction Company, LLC, Kenner, La., a member of the New Orleans/Bayou Chapter; Circle Electric, Inc., Menommonee Falls, Wis., a member of the Wisconsin Chapter; Pinkerton & Laws, Marietta, Ga., a member of the Georgia Chapter; and Milender White Construction Co., Arvada, Colo., a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter have been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.

On September 25 the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans' Employment and Training Service issued a final rule that changed the reporting requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors who hire and employ veterans under provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974.

BIM is the future of the construction industry. In fact, BIM adoption in North America reached 71% in 2012 up from only 17% in 2007, according a McGraw Hill Construction SmartMarket Report. The reason might lie in the fact that 67% of users in this report that demonstrated a very high level of BIM engagement saw a positive return on investment (ROI) (specifically a 52% increase in their profits) compared to only 20% of low-level users.