勛圖窪蹋厙 is requesting presentation proposals covering construction safety and health issues as well as those cross-over topics that would appeal to a broader audience of Safety, Health & Environmental (SH&E) professionals; for example leadership, management, training, general technologies, or risk and crisis management that use a mix of safety and health and environmental examples. The conference addresses the most critical safety, health and environmental issues impacting the business of construction, provides management guidance for professionals, and gives context for other construction professionals looking to understand the key concepts and round out their knowledge. For more information on speaker expectations, important deadlines, and how to submit your proposal, click here.
On Jan. 29, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new guidance on protecting workers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Per OSHA, the guidance is not a standard or regulation, creates no new legal obligations and the recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards in the workplace.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. Have Worst 2020 Losses, While Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind. and Walla Walla, Wash. Register Largest Gains in Industry Jobs
Construction-industry collective bargaining negotiations completed in 2020 resulted in an average first-year increase in wages and fringe benefits of $1.63 or 2.8 percent, according to the annual year-end Settlements Report recently released by the 勛圖窪蹋厙-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC). This is slightly down from raises negotiated in 2019, when the average first-year increase negotiated was $1.67 or 2.9 percent, and it marks the first decline in the size of increases negotiated since 2011. However, CLRC notes, the average dollar-amount increase negotiated in 2020 remains more than double the amount negotiated in 2011.
Demand for Nonresidential Construction and Public Works Will Decline Amid Ongoing Pandemic Concerns, Worsening State and Local Budgets as Association Officials Call for New Recovery Measures
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host two information sessions in February on the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants.
Effects both Buy America and Buy American Laws
President Bidens Executive Order (EO) on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad contained a brief provision focused on the Davis-Bacon Act and prevailing wages. In addition to reminding agencies involved of their legal obligations to apply and enforce existing Davis-Bacon requirements, the EO also ordered the Secretary of Labor to update prevailing wage requirements. There has yet to be any concrete indication of when Marty Walsh, the nominee to be the Secretary of Labor, might be confirmed and any efforts ordered upon him will have to wait until he is confirmed and in place at the DOL. 勛圖窪蹋厙 will be involved in any updates to Davis-Bacon and keep members informed.
On January 20, President Biden released a legislative proposal to reform the nations immigration system. The proposal is separate from presidential actions halting construction of the southern border wall or preserving and fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The DACA program had been under considerable attack from the Trump Administration and in the courts. The EO attempts to provide greater certainty while Congress makes permanent changes. The other important program to the construction industry, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) program, is in less urgent need of executive action as it was previously extended through October 4, 2021 by the Trump Administration. There are more than 100,000 construction workers estimated to work in the industry with the TPS and DACA programs.
As part of his approach to addressing climate change, President Biden signed an executive order that directs a pause on entering into new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or offshore waters, as well as a rigorous review of existing leasing and permitting practices related to fossil fuel development and doubling renewable energy production from offshore wind by 2030. The order does not immediately affect the substantial number of leases entered into during the Trump administration. While 勛圖窪蹋厙 and its members look forward to new clean energy construction market opportunities, the association remains concerned about impacts to traditional energy markets and its members who perform that work.