AGC Houston Chapter Office

The Junior League of Houston

Sheraton Downtown Phoenix

In this half-day program, attendees will gain a better understanding of today's complex construction schedule and delay claim analysis process.

Among numerous topics, this class will cover notice deadlines and requirements for filing lien and bond claims; how to obtain project information; and how to avoid common problems with lien and bond claims.

This session will build on the Liens and Bonds speech with an advanced discussion of liens and how they are enforced. The session will also cover a variety of payment topics.  

This course is designed to provide entry-level construction workers general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site.

This new class has been developed for supervisors who have drivers in the field. This class will provide excellent information for anyone in a supervisory role to recognize the signs of alcohol and drug abuse. You do not have to be a DOT-regulated carrier/employer to attend this class.

Learn to make your environmental management system (EMS) effective so that you can reduce liability, ensure compliance, and improve operating efficiency.

This course is designed for individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for hazardous substances for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, or the environment.

The OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Course is intended for supervisors or for workers with some safety responsibility. It provides a greater depth and variety of training on an expanded list of topics associated with workplace hazards than the 10-hour course.

On May 19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division filed a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to collect $556,000 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for at least 445 current and former employees of Paul Johnson Drywall. PJD also agreed to pay $44,000 in civil monetary penalties.

ATTENTION AGC MEMBERS: AGC members can benefit from discounts on their Verizon phone plans. Benefits include up to 22% off corporate calling plans. Employees receive up to an 18% discount (15% plus an additional, 3% discount if enrolled in online billing) on their plans. Pricing options are also available on data plans, accessories, and devices. 

If you have any questions or would like to have a Verizon business sales representative reach out to you, please call NPP at 800-810-3909 or email customerservice@mynpp.com.

On May 2, 2014, The Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has updated its model notices that inform workers of their eligibility to continue healthcare coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

The National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have entered into a program together for the referral of untimely whistleblower claims. The new program could result in a significant uptick in unfair labor practice charges in the construction industry, both in the union and open shop sectors. 

Marek Sawing & Drilling, LLC is excited to announce that Jason Kopke has joined the company as Principal/CEO. As Marek continues to grow their leadership and fleet service capacity, Jason will help guide the company forward by meeting and exceeding customer demands. Jason's background and knowledge of the industry includes a ten year tenure with a premier mechanical contractor in Houston. Congratulations and we are excited to see what the future holds for Marek!

The 2014 National Safety Stand-Down was a success throughout Houston, as thousands supported the industry-wide effort to emphasize and promote jobsite safety last week. A reminder to send your photos and registration forms to Safety Director, Kim Mason, and stay tuned for more photos.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, AGC of America has reported that Texas' construction injury rate has come down by almost half in the last decade. Texas had a construction injury rate of 4.4 incidents per 100 workers in 2003. By 2012, the construction-injury rate was 2.3 incidents per 100 workers — a decrease of 48 percent. The new statistics regarding construction injury and fatality rates has bolstered new efforts by the AGC to make the industry even safer.

The 2014 Katy ISD Bond Committee is now in the deliberation phase and will be selecting potential projects to be included in a 2014 bond package. Such projects include new schools, new student activity facilities, campus renovations, and safety and security, among other items. These meetings are open to the public. The Bond Committee will be making a recommendation for a 2014 bond package to the Katy ISD Board of Trustees on July 21. The last day to call an election will be August 26.

According to Toby Mack, president of the Energy Equipment and Infrastructure Alliance, the hiring of construction workers could increase 60 percent from the 2012 level by 2025. He predicts that five percent of those opportunities will occur within the energy-producing regions. However, he warns, "government action restricting shale energy production could undermine the viability of this sector."