OSHA’s Final Rule on Crystalline Silica is now out and will go into effect soon.The construction industry needs to understand the obligations under the new standard as well as their compliance options.The AGC's webinar will provide the construction industry with background information about the new 29 CFR 1926.1153 - Respirable crystalline silica, including general information about performing construction work on silica containing materials, the historical significance of the rule, key details as to how the rule will affect construction jobsite, as well as what is necessary to comply with the final rule.

AGC of America recently launched ConstructorCast, a new monthly podcast that explores in-depth issues affecting the construction industry. AGC will speak with a different authority on current topics including public policy, safety and health, labor and many more. The inaugural episode features a conversation with David Ashinoff, Director of AGC's PAC and Political Advocacy, to discuss the 2016 elections.

 The Department has attempted to contact every contractor identified by a public government body as having performed work on a public works project in Illinois last year, as well as every union that historically provided rate information for work performed on such a project to the Department. If your firm has received a survey from the state, please complete and submit the survey.

MindEdge's Cybersecurity courses introduce students to the basic concepts and components of securing electronic data and information over computer networks, systems, applications and other technologies. With the increase in the volume and magnitude of data breaches and cyber attacks in recent years, information security has never been more vital. These courses align with the eight domains established by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. This course exposes students to the information security topics in the (ISC)2 Common Body of Knowledge (CBK).

AGC's Professional Mobile Crane Operations Program is designed to assist the construction community as a whole to prepare for the certification requirement to reflect the provisions in the new standards. This student guide is designed to help participants become a better crane operator by learning safe and efficient practices. Upon completion of the program participants will understand various operational and safety principles and practices that can be used every day. This program covers rules and regulation, site review and set-up, operations, conditions affecting operations, basic rigging and wire rope, maintenance and inspection, load charts, and crane types.

Join the Builders Foundation at Ruffled Feathers in Lemont on July 13 for a sunny day of golfing for a cause. The Builders Foundation has awarded a record-breaking nine Chicago-area college students with scholarships this year, and the Foundation looks forward to continuing to support the up-and-comers of Chicago's market.

Construction Education Institute (CEI) is offering an Important Safety Updates program on July 12 from 8 - 11 a.m. to help contractors avoid likely OSHA citations and fines for the GHZ HazCom and Confined Space entry regulations.The program will be held at the MCA Construction Education Institute in Burr Ridge.

GHS HazCom became effective June 1, 2016, meaning: all workplace labels must be updated, a written program must be updated, and training for new hazards must be provided.

The Confined Space Entry program became effective August 1, 2015, but it requires that you conduct and document and annual review of any permits issued. If you have issued permits and have not reviewed your program you are open to a fine. This program will assist you on how to conduct this review.

The AGC is hosting its 8th Annual IT Forum in Chicago in August, and all IT professionals are encouraged to attend. The Forum will focus on the changing role of IT as it pertains to construction. Builders Association is proud to see representatives of many member companies speaking at this event.

Summer is in full swing, and OSHA wants construction companies to keep heat awareness top-of-mind. Thousands of workers unnecessarily fall ill to extreme heat each year, leading to fatalities in some instances. Heat illness is completely preventable and all construction workers should be fully educated on its signs and symptoms in order to stay healthy and productive on the job. OSHA's heat awareness campaign explains heat illness, who is at risk, how it can be prevented, and what to do when someone becomes ill on the job.

On June 21, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finalized a new and comprehensive set of rules for the commercial use of small drones in all industries, including construction. This action completes a rulemaking process that the FAA began in February of 2015 – in an effort to meet Congressional demands and to stem a rapidly rising tide of applications for individual exemptions from longstanding rules that make no distinction between manned and unmanned aircraft. Through January 20 of this year, the FAA had granted 3,136 of these exemptions for the commercial use of drones, and significantly, 48 percent of that total were for uses in the construction and engineering. AGC is preparing a series of education programs to assist its members in complying with the new rules.

Questions on how proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for construction contractors setting up safety and health programs might later be used to cite them persisted through a two-day effort to write the recommended guidance.

The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), a panel of about 15 safety experts from employers, unions and other organizations, met April 25-26 to develop recommended changes to the OSHA's proposed Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines to make the advice more relevant to the construction industry.

The Lean Construction Institute will host its 18th Annual Conference in Chicago this October 3-7. The conference will host several AGC Lean Construction Education units for those who may have missed any units in our series earlier this year.

Lean Certificate of Management credential (CM-Lean) can be earned by sitting for the CM-Lean exam after completing all seven lean education units. The CM-Lean Exam can be taken at the Builders Association, as the Association is an accredited testing center. Please contact Stacey Kelly at the Builders Association to take other units or schedule a time to sit for the exam.

Plote Construction is a road construction and site development contractor in Northern Illinois, working in both the public and private sectors. Their focus is primarily on excavation, asphalt paving and concrete paving. In addition, Plote provides paving materials, which include asphalt, aggregates and material recycling services.

DLZ was named 2015 Design Firm of the Year by Engineering-News Record (ENR) Midwest. As one of the top consulting firms in the architectural, engineering and surveying industry, this distinguished award comes as DLZ celebrates 100 years of services. ENR is a prestigious organization in the Architectural/Engineering industry that reports on the top design firms as well as projects in the United States and around the world. "DLZ is truly honored to be selected as 2015 Design Firm of the Year," said Vikram 'Raj' Rajadhyaksha, CEO for DLZ. Adding, "It really is a testament to our talented employees, the quality of our work, and the solutions we offer our clients."

Wight & Company earned an Award of Merit by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) for its New Student Center Addition at Joliet Central High School. The project is a 43,000-square-foot addition to the school’s main building. The new Student Center includes a cafeteria and kitchen and provides seating for approximately 600 people in flexible configurations that can be arranged to accommodate both community and school events. To connect the Student Center to the main campus, the Galleria is attached to the east side of the 1920’s school, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.