Members' Edge - October 18, 2018

Safety

Now Accepting Applications For The 2019 AGC Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Awards

The AGC-Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) is the industry’s elite safety excellence awards program for contractors of all types and sizes. CSEA recognizes companies that have developed and implemented premier safety and risk control programs and showcases companies that have achieved continuous improvement and maintenance of their safety and health management system.

Deadline for submitting applications is Friday, December 14, 2018. Check out the details

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=527300&issueID=63814 to view the full article online.

Check Out These Upcoming Safety Classes

Visit http://oshacon.org/ to view the full article online.

Know What's Below Before You Dig!

By Kim Mason, AGC Houston Director of Safety Services

Hitting A Pipeline Could Cost You Over $8,000!

Every nine minutes, someone hits a gas line, mostly due to construction-related work. Loss issues associated with damages include water and waste water, customer satisfaction, loss of service and a $2,000 fine per incident.

On August 31, 2018, AGC Houston Safety Committee members heard from Jesse Torres, Damage Prevention Manager at Texas 811 about the differences between safe digging and dangerous digging with equipment used on job sites. Torres underscored the importance of contacting the Texas 811 agency to submit a location report of all the underground pipelines that exist on a site, prior to digging.

"As an excavator, it is extremely important you know where underground utility lines are located whenever digging is taking place," he stated. "Using the 811 services can be the difference between safe digging and dangerous digging with any of the equipment used on job sites. There are several options for getting underground lines marked. You can call the Lonestar 811, or use the 811 Portal to process your tickets electronically. Avoid costly damages, contact 811 before you dig!"

He recommended that construction crews use the portal to submit their digging request at least 48 hours before starting the process on job sites. The benefit of applying online also helps to expedite the underground pipe and cable location process. The agency will provide an expected project start date and the scope of work it will include. He also recommends that the contact be an individual ? such as a superintendent- who works on the job site.

Once contractors receive the location report of the jobsite's underground pipes, Torres recommends that all additional work areas (white lining) be marked beyond the pipeline location flags to ensure a safe excavation.

Call 811 Before You Dig! Sign Up For The Texas811 Portal Today!

•The online ticketing application allows 24/7 access for filing Locates on the jobsite;

•Process your own Update and Remark tickets;

•File a report within 30 days of request and take photos of the marked pipeline color-coded location flags;

•There's ''Live Chat help'' available, manuals, and tutorial videos to help you through the process.

In 1998, the Texas Damage Prevention Law became effective, which requires excavators and demolishers to call a notification center at least 48 hours, excluding holidays and weekends before they begin their work.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=527176&issueID=63814 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=527142&issueID=63814 to view the full article online.

AGC News

Construction Materials Costs Increase 7.4 Percent As Contractors Continue To Be Squeezed By Tariffs And Rising Fuel Prices

The cost of many products used in construction climbed 7.4 percent over the past year due to double digit increases in commonly-used construction materials, according to an analysis by AGC of America of new Labor Department data. The cost increases come as many construction firms are already grappling with shortages of skilled craftsmen essential for projects but have limited ability to increase prices for their services.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/10/10/construction-material-costs-increase-74-percent-contractors-continue-be-squeezed to view the full article online.

Message from the President/CEO

Great Leadership Begets Great Leaders

I recently returned from an Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America national leadership conference in Washington DC. The annual meeting offers the opportunity for chapter executives and volunteer leaders to join with colleagues for legislative and regulatory updates as well as share ideas and best practices. An added benefit to this year’s conference was that it was held in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of the national organization.

Over the two-and-a-half-day conference I was struck by just how fortunate our industry is and has been ? both at the local and national level ?to have, and to have had, so many committed individuals in its leadership. Basic engagement in any organization, whether it be your church council, your child’s school board or youth league, or your industry’s trade association, takes a significant amount of time and commitment. The time and energy the volunteer leaders commit to the AGC, in addition to leading in their own respective organizations, deserves an acknowledgement of sincere gratitude.

What the future looks like, from the technology to be used to the make-up of the workforce, creates an exciting future for everyone involved in the commercial construction industry. But in the end, how the future unfolds will greatly depend on strong leaders. Leaders who will work to ensure success for all involved, from the construction owner to the craft person delivering the final product.

Today and Friday, the AGC Houston Construction Leadership Council (CLC) will host the launch of the fifth class of its Leadership AGC (LAGC) program. The program was established to allow future leaders to meet and visit with key leaders of the various entities that drive the commercial construction industry in our region. Judging the caliber of many of the alum from the first four classes, I am very excited for the industry and the up and coming leaders who will be there to represent us.

Read more of Jerry Nevlud's posts on Linked-In

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=527163&issueID=63814 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

NIOSH-Funded Studies Show Ways to Reduce Silica Exposure in Concrete Cutting

Drilling into concrete can expose workers to silica dust, which will damage workers' lungs if inhaled, and the drilling also exposes the worker to hand vibration and noise at levels above recommended limits. Two NIOSH-funded studies through CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training and the University of California at Berkeley have identified ways to reduce these hazards.

Visit https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/10/18/niosh-studies-show-ways-to-reduce-silica.aspx?admgarea=news&m=1 to view the full article online.

OSHA Publishes New Silica Frequently Asked Questions For Construction

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=527154&issueID=63814 to view the full article online.

Billions Of Dollars In Construction Funding In FY 2019 Funding Bills

On Sept. 13, Congress passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 appropriations bill?which the president is expected to sign into law?that will provide significant amounts of funding for military construction projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC); hospital, medical clinic and cemetery projects through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA); and harbor maintenance, lock, dam, levee and environmental restoration projects through the USACE Civil Works Program.

Visit https://advocacy.agc.org/billions-of-dollars-in-construction-funding-in-fy-2019-funding-bills/ to view the full article online.

OSHA Updates National Emphasis Program On Trenching & Excavation

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing trenching and excavation collapses in response to a recent spike in trenching fatalities.

The emphasis program began October 1, 2018, with a three-month period of education and prevention outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations, and fatalities. OSHA's NEP will increase education and enforcement efforts while its inspectors will record trenching and excavation inspections in a national reporting system, and each area OSHA office will develop outreach programs.

Visit https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/10022018 to view the full article online.

11th Circuit Deals Blow To OSHA's Inspection Authority

Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a lower court’s order quashing an administrative warrant for the inspection of a poultry processing plant. USA v. Mar-Jac Poultry, Inc., No. 16-17745 (11th Cir. 2018). The Court concluded that the mere recording of work-related injuries or illnesses does not mean that they were the result of a violation of an OSHA standard, rule or regulation. As such, recorded injuries or illnesses don’t "justify the issuance of an administrative warrant for evidence of OSHA violations."

Visit https://www.natlawreview.com/article/11th-circuit-deals-blow-to-osha-s-inspection-authority to view the full article online.