Members' Edge - September 20, 2019

AGC News

Announcing AGC's Inaugural Construction Video Awards!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581391&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

Subscribe to AGC of America's Podcast

The ConstructorCast is AGC of America's monthly podcast covering all the news, views and interviews relevant to your construction business.

Next WebEd: AGC’s Three-Part Webinar Series on Navigating the Complexities of Marijuana, CBD and Opioid Use in Construction - Oct. 1-15

Last Minute EEO-1 Component 2 WebEd Rescheduled for Sept. 24
Now free for AGC members! With the Sept. 30 deadline rapidly approaching, don’t miss out! For those of you who have put it off and/or are still working on compiling and submitting your Component 2 pay data portion of the EEO-1 report, AGC is offering a last minute WebEd to specifically assist contractors and subs comply with the new requirement.

Details Here

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581278&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Pass the JOBS Act

Tell Congress to reform federal education policy to help the industry meet its present and future workforce needs. Congress can take corrective action by passing the JOBS Act. This legislation will expand needs-based financial aid Pell Grant eligibility to short-term training courses and programs - an important step towards bridging the skills gap and helping individuals receive necessary training for job development.

Taking action is easy. Submit the pre-written message as is to your Representative and Senators or customize them with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your company.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581279&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

AGC-TBB Joins Amicus Brief Opposing Dallas Paid Sick Leave Law

Dallas, Austin and San Antonio are among cities that have enacted government-mandated paid sick leave laws in cities across Texas after similar efforts failed in the state Legislature this spring. Each of the local ordinances requires private employers to offer their employees paid sick leave or face penalties.

AGC Texas Building Branch along with several Texas business groups have joined the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce in its court filing opposing the city's paid sick leave ordinance.

Visit http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1119709320910&ca=166dfaa4-98e6-4c6a-857c-89a538f7e1bd to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581682&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

Member News

Aggregate Technologies Showcases Underwater Wire Sawing and Demolition

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581393&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

Harris County and Ben Taub Hospital Open New Surgical Center

Vaughn Construction announced the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Harris County, Ben Taub Surgical Care Center. Vaughn served as the construction manager at risk for the $60 million project designed by Johnston Architects.

Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox, distinguished service professor at Baylor College of Medicine, chief of staff, and surgeon-in-chief at Ben Taub Hospital, said the new surgical care environment can accommodate nearly 6,600 procedures annually, including the most complex trauma, vascular, neurological, thoracic and orthopedic surgeries

Visit http://www.vaughnconstruction.com/news/2019/09/05/harris-county-and-ben-taub-general-hospital-open-new-surgical-care-center to view the full article online.

News you can Use

2019 Houston Wage Results Are In!

Visit https://bit.ly/2lXDxZ6 to view the full article online.

U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Requests Information on Table 1 of the Silica Standard for Construction

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information and comment on Table 1 of the agency’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction. OSHA seeks information on additional engineering and work practice control methods to effectively limit exposure to silica for the equipment and tasks currently listed on Table 1.

Comments must be submitted by November 13, 2019. Read the full press release here.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=581284&issueID=65345 to view the full article online.

Prequalification Platforms Draw Mixed Reactions from Contractors

New tools have made it possible for parties to more easily evaluate contractors' and subcontractors' bids, but some bidders claim that these tools are time consuming to use, lead to higher costs and can be unfair. Chris Black, director of operations at Appruv, denies that prequalification platforms are "made up entirely of algorithms," as human evaluation and flexibility have become a larger part of such systems.

Visit https://www.enr.com/articles/47326-construction-prequalification-when-project-paths-go-through-electronic-gates to view the full article online.

Resources

September Is National Preparedness Month

OSHA's Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage provides information to protect workers responding to hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters.It also gives information on creating evacuation plans and reducing hazards for hurricane response and recovery work.

The AGC Houston Safety Committee has prepared the "Guidelines for Creation of Emergency Preparedness Plan," a highly useful, free document. Check out the document and other resources.

Visit https://agchouston.org/AGCH/Safety/AGCH/Safety/Safety.aspx?hkey=e640e59b-5458-4d3d-90a5-09b039007e51 to view the full article online.