OSHA Meeting on Construction Safety and Health

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) Dec. 13-16, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The agency also is accepting nominations to serve on the committee.

ACCSH, established under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, advises the Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on construction standards and policy matters.

ACCSH meetings will be held in Room N-3437 A-C, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. The agenda includes an update on OSHA’s construction enforcement and outreach efforts, rule-making projects, a presentation from the Seattle Tunnel and Rail Team; ACCSH’s consideration of, and recommendations on a direct final rule/proposed rule to update personal protective equipment standards on head protection for construction work and a proposed rule on Standards Improvement Project IV; and a presentation from the Office Engineering Services on sewage treatment plant failure.

The full committee will meet 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 15, and 8 a.m. to noon, Dec. 16. Work Groups will meet Dec. 13-14. The following ACCSH Work Groups will meet on Dec. 13, 2011: Backing Operations, 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.; Prevention through Design, 1 to 3 p.m. and; Construction Health Hazard 3:10 to 5:10 p.m. Work Groups meeting on Dec. 14, 2011 include: Reinforced Concrete in Construction, 8 to 10 a.m.; Injury and Illness Prevention Programs, 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. and; Multilingual Issues, Diversity, Women in Construction, 1 to 3 p.m.

Comments and requests to speak may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Comments and requests to speak must be submitted by Dec. 2, 2011.

Nonresidential Construction Index for Q4

FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, released its Nonresidential Construction Index report for the fourth quarter of 2011.

The Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) slipped from 52.4 to a barely positive 50.3 this quarter. While the stock market continues its gyrations from news surrounding the future of the Euro countries, the NRCI has managed glacial growth, chugging along just above average for the last two years, average being little to no growth. The NRCI dropping to 50.3 this quarter is less a downward trend than a continuation of moderate growth.

Moderate growth does not mean there are not changes going on in nonresidential construction. In past issues, panelists’ expressed views on the increasing use of new methods and technologies like BIM, prefabrication, modularization, integrated project delivery, sustainable construction, as well as improved productivity and business development. Most contractors are better prepared to deal with these challenges than with abrupt changes in the economy.

Current Issues

Overwhelmingly, NRCI panelists do not expect the American Jobs Act (AJA) and the related National Infrastructure Bank bill to pass as now proposed. Even with public construction as part of the AJA, few panelists expected that it would significantly increase their backlogs if passed.

This report also looks into a not-so-new problem, how to pay for rising health care insurance costs. The issue is resurfacing due to the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obama Care. Although the majority of NRCI panelists recognize they will have to share the skyrocketing costs of health care with employees, a few say they intend to drop their policies, pay the penalties and let employees fend for themselves. Twenty percent of panelists have yet to fully examine their options.

Bottom line, little to moderate growth for now. However, this doesn’t mean there won’t be significant changes in how the nonresidential construction industry conducts business over the coming months.

Holcim Awards for Asia Pacific

The Holcim Awards Gold 2011 for Asia Pacific was awarded to a project that upgrades a traditional building method with effective low-tech measures through engineering and design. The Earthen School Tipu Sultan Merkez, in a small village near Lahore, Pakistan, was designed by architect Eike Roswag of Ziegert Roswag Seiler Architekten Ingenieure, Germany. It was constructed using a cob (clay, sand, water and straw) lower floor, combined with an upper floor made of earth-filled bamboo walls. Intense research on cob construction resulted in a significant increase in strength and durability, and extended maintenance intervals compared to former approaches.

Holcim Awards Silver went to the conversion of a former textile factory and adjacent land into an agricultural production site and retail outlet in central Bangkok. The Urban Farm Urban Barn, designed by a project team led by Isavaret Tamonut of TTH Trading, reintroduces elements of self-sufficiency, while reconnecting food production and consumption.

Holcim Awards Bronze was awarded to a team led by architect Ken Yeang of T R Hamzah & Yeang International for a 14-level commercial and retail building located in Malaysia’s federal administrative city of Putrajaya. The building brings together state-of-the-art technologies appropriate for high-quality use in two interconnected towers. The towers use vegetation to actively reduce energy consumption, provide solar shading, and create comfortable spaces considering all requirements of utilization.

Six Acknowledgement prizes were shared between three projects in Indonesia, two in India and one in Japan. The “Next Generation” (student category) prizes were awarded to project visions for urban transit cycling in Beijing, urban planning and revitalization of Navi Mumbai, and a decentralized sanitation system near New Delhi.

The Holcim Awards ceremony for Asia Pacific in Singapore concluded the series of five events and followed the presentation of winners in Casablanca, Milan, Buenos Aires and Washington, D.C. Winners of Holcim Awards Gold, Silver and Bronze in each region qualify for the Global Holcim Awards 2012. In addition, all prize-winning projects at the regional level, including the Acknowledgement and Next Generation winners, will compete for Global Holcim Innovation prizes. Winners of the global prizes will be announced in April 2012.

Delegates at IPAF US Convention: Stop Paying Lip Service to AWP Safety

Frank discussions on what is appropriate training for aerial work platform (AWP) operators and how to keep operators safe marked the first-ever IPAF US Convention held in November in Chicago.

Brad Boehler, Skyjack president, provided industry data and statistics that identify leading potential hazards that must be incorporated in risk assessments and method statements to protect workers from these risks.

In another presentation, Paul Penzkover, safety director at Mortenson Construction, highlighted some common problems on sites: unqualified personnel, using personnel platforms to hoist materials, non-approved modifications/attachments, climbing/standing on rails, unstable or improvised ground conditions, and travelling while elevated.

IPAF does not deliver training. However, there is a training program provided independently by some IPAF members in North America, which include rental companies, manufacturers and training organizations. This training program is managed by IPAF’s North American subsidiary, AWPT (American Work Platform Training).

Delegates also heard presentations on sustainability, rental statistics, accident research, the Latin American market and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs).

Kevin Groman, senior VP at RSC Equipment Rentals, spoke on “Strategically Approaching Sustainability,” citing an example of how the company’s trash and expense audit led it to review its use of tires to save millions of dollars on dealing with waste and recycling. Groman made a challenge to all to look at their business and discover how they can, through a sustainability plan, improve their bottom line and simultaneously stop filling their trash bins.

About 100 people attended the Convention, ranging from rental companies and manufacturers, to unions and end-users, and reactions to the event were positive.

“I’ve been covering these topics for years and from my perspective, the biggest obstacle is no longer a lack of information or a failure among those in the industry to believe in the necessity for safety and training,” says Jenny Lescohier, editor of Rental Product News. “Right now, I believe the problem boils down to a lack of follow through. There needs to be a shift in thinking where safety and comprehensive training go from being ‘nice to haves’ to jobsite imperatives. The solution to the problem remains elusive, but events like the IPAF Convention go a very long way toward finding it.”

Masonry Hall of Fame

The Masonry Hall of Fame has been created by the Mason Contractors Association of America to recognize and award those individuals who have dedicated their lives to the masonry industry.

Do you know someone who has dedicated their life to the masonry industry? If so, nominate them to be part of the Masonry Hall of Fame. Nominations will be accepted until Dec. 9, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Nominees accepted into the Hall of Fame will be inducted during the MCAA Convention.

You must be a member of the MCAA to nominate an individual. Please log in (www.masoncontractors.org/login.php?r=/hall-of-fame) using your MCAA username and password to access the nomination form.

Hall of Fame Criteria

· Individuals must have had a major impact on the masonry industry, not necessarily with just the MCAA.

· Nominations must state the significant accomplishments of the individual nominee.

· Individuals must have been or be in the industry for a minimum of 25 years.

· Nominations are open to any MCAA member and masonry chapters.

· The judging panel will consist of four executive officers, one regional VP (rotated annually), one committee chair (rotated annually), one at-large member (rotated annually), the executive director.

· Any nominee must receive six of the eight eligible votes in order to be accepted into the Hall of Fame.

· Involvement in the industry is open. Nominees can be but are not limited to contractors, employees, instructors, architects, engineers and association staff.

· Each recipient will receive one plaque. An identical plaque will be on display at the MCAA headquarters.

Repeal of 3% Withholding Passes

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 422-0 on Nov. 16 to unanimously repeal H.R. 674, the 3 percent withholding law on all federal, state and local government contracts.

The bill will be sent to the President to sign into law. President Obama supports repealing the withholding law and is expected to sign it as early as this week.

"Congress demonstrated that when we work together, we can find bipartisan solutions to laws and regulations that stifle job creation," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich. "The permanent repeal of the 3 percent withholding law gives employers greater certainty that they will have resources to hire and invest in getting America back to work."

The MCAA has opposed the withholding and has worked hard to urge Congress to repeal this law. The MCAA would like to thank all of the members who called, wrote, and visited their senators and representatives to help make this significant legislative victory possible.

Many legislative challenges still remain in the months ahead. The MCAA vows to stay on top of these issues and represent the interests of mason contractors in Washington, D.C.

Redevelopment of Naval Station to Create 10,000 Jobs

By Peter Howe

U.S. Navy officials are set to sign papers next week to sell the old South Weymouth (Mass.) Naval Air Station – closed in 1997 – to developers planning to create a $2.5 billion new community during the next decade.

It promises to turn the old, 1,400-acre World War II anti-submarine blimp base into 3,000 homes close to MBTA commuter rail; an office park with as much space as Boston’s John Hancock Tower; a walkable village-square shopping complex totaling about 200,000 square feet, with 70 percent of the area saved as open space; wildlife habitat; and an 18-hole golf course. A four-lane parkway through the site will connect Routes 228 and 18, and reconnect neighborhoods of South Weymouth, Rockland, and Abington (all in Massachusetts) long separated by the base.

“The master plan, the smart growth community that we've all been planning for, will be able to come to fruition," Kevin Chase, VP of LNR and head of the SouthField development project, said in an interview.

Already, LNR is building out and selling and renting $130 million of new apartments, homes, and an assisted-living complex, all within walking distance of the South Weymouth rail stop that’s just 28 minutes, and two or three stops depending on schedule, from South Station in Boston. The $25 million purchase agreement to be signed next week with the Navy will cover the 700 acres at the heart of the base and clarify the Navy’s legal responsibility to clean up what are believed to be relatively minor fuel and cleaning solvent spills on the site from its days as an active military facility.

U.S. Representative William R. Keating, whose current district includes all three towns with property inside the air base zone, said he was thrilled the Navy’s finally come to terms on a sale.

“That was the last major hurdle in trying to really get a deal done. That's going to produce 10,000 jobs - construction jobs and permanent jobs in our region. That's a big deal,’’ Keating said. “It couldn't come at a better time for people who need work.’’

This article first appeared at www.necn.com.

CMA STAR Award Winners

The Construction Marketing Association (CMA), sponsor of the annual CMA STAR Awards and CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR Awards, announces 2011 award winners.

The STAR awards recognize excellence in 16 marketing categories and 78 sub-categories. CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR recognizes top brands, companies or individuals both by region. SUPERSTAR and STAR (first place/second place respectively) are awarded for each sub-category. Finally, BEST OF SHOW is bestowed on the winner of the most awards.

McGraw-Hill Construction (McGraw-Hill) won BEST OF SHOW with 13 total STAR Awards, along with the CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR for the Eastern region. USG won CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR for the Midwest region, as well as SUPERSTAR for the Integrated Campaign category. MWH Constructors won CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR for the Western region, as well as SUPERSTAR for the Print Ad category.

AWARD winners were notified by email and mail, and receive a frame-quality certificate. In addition, winners can order an engraved STAR Statuette from the same manufacturer as the Oscar. CMA’s annual STAR and CONSTRUCTION MARKETER OF THE YEAR AWARDS are open to both CMA members and non-members.

For more information and a list of winners, visit www.constructionmarketingassociation.org/AwardsWinners.cfm.