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Everyone has smartphones and tablets on the jobsite. But are you using the cameras on these devices as a competitive advantage? Most contractors are taking photographs on the job. But the experienced ones are using software which documents not only when the pictures were taken, but uses the GPS capabilities of the device to store the exact location as well. And the best contractors can pull up drawings on their tablet and see pins dropped automatically on the plans, showing where the pictures were taken. This type of progressive visual documentation can be invaluable not only to the owner, but to the contractor as well. During later phases of construction, say after the sheetrock has been in

ABC needs volunteer leaders for the launch of its Diversity Resource Groups (DRGs). Do you have a passion for diversity and inclusion? Do you have leadership experience in the construction industry? Would you like to assist ABC members in becoming world class diversity leaders? Would you like to help ABC drive industry diversity and inclusion in order to attract a diverse workforce to the construction industry?

ABC is encouraging all members to call on their Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor and support the “Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act” (S. 2015/ H.R. 3459). This important legislation will help provide additional stability for contractors, subcontractors and their employees by restoring the 30 year old “joint employer” standard, encouraging local business ownership and employee opportunity.

Great news! If you’re an employee of an Associated Builders and Contractors member, you may qualify for an ABC member discount on auto insurance, in addition to GEICO's already low rates. The member discount is available in most states.  Already a GEICO customer? Call GEICO and ask a customer service representative if you qualify for an additional discount as a member.

President Obama signed into law an ABC-supported, bipartisan change to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the evening of Oct. 7. The bill signed into law, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act (H.R. 1624/ S. 1099), will remove the ACA requirement that mandates states to expand the small group definition. As a member of the 50-100 Coalition, ABC urged Congress to pass the PACE Act in letters to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate as well as to individual members of Congress.

ABC reiterated its opposition to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) one-size-fits-all overtime proposal ahead of the Oct. 8 U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee  Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations hearing on how the proposed regulation would impact small business owners and their employees. The proposed rule, which was issued July 6, makes changes to existing regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that define which employees are exempt from overtime pay.

Every year, senior development professionals and governments working in the public and private sector come together for an educational three-day conference to discuss complex issues surrounding public-private partnerships (P3s).  Next year’s Public-Private Conference & Expo (P3C), one of the largest gatherings of development professionals in the country, takes place on March 7-9 at the Sheraton Hotel in Dallas. The agenda at this year’s conference features several talks about infrastructure related development and P3s.

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals placed a nationwide stay  on the Obama Administration’s controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule on Oct. 9. The final rule, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) May 27, greatly expands the Administration’s jurisdiction over water and land uses across the country under the Clean Water Act.

On Oct. 9, the ABC-led Construction Industry Safety Coalition submitted comments in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Request for Information (RFI) on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs). The RFI asked stakeholders how the agency should consider approaching health standard rulemaking, such as managing chemical exposures in workplaces.

Lewis Contractors of Owings Mills, Md., a member of ABC’s Baltimore Metro Chapter; and Ross & Associates, Ltd., of River Falls, Wisc., a member of ABC’s Wisconsin Chapter, have been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.

Kinsley Construction is a group of business units, each specializing in a specific market sector, such as education, healthcare, government, office, manufacturing, distribution, renovation, cultural, retail/commercial, hospitality and multi-family housing. The company is consistently ranked among the top 100 design/build firms and top 400 contractors in the nation, according to rankings by Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Every year, the elite group of Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) members are listed in the December issue of ABC’s magazine, Construction Executive (CE), which reaches more than 50,000 contractors and construction-related business owners and has won more than 15 editorial awards.  Starting this year, AQC members now have a new opportunity to promote this designation in the magazine.

ABC and Fringe Benefit Group announced the expansion of The Contractors Plan, a benefits platform designed specifically for construction contractors, to include a full suite of benefits including Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant major medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement and HRA plans – all managed through a single online platform.

Employers can now be cited for not complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) confined spaces in construction final rule. A temporary enforcement policy of not issuing citations--provided employers made good-faith efforts to comply--expired on Oct. 2.

If there’s one thing we can do collectively to advance our industry, it is to ensure that we continue to attract and retain talented people to meet the nation’s ever-increasing construction needs. October is Careers in Construction Month, and ABC is highlighting programs that promote life-long learning experience—and national recognition based on achievement at every level.