Members' Edge - June 4, 2020

Safety

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619562&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Construction Violations

• Duty to have fall protection
• Scaffolding
• Ladders
• Fall protection training
• Eye and face protection
• General safety/health
• Head protection
• Aerial lifts
• Fall protection systems criteria and practices
• Excavations

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Upcoming Safety Classes

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AGC News

House-Passed Bill Extends the Paycheck Protection Program

Among other fixes, the bill would extend the current eight-week period during which businesses must use funds to have loans forgiven to 24 weeks or Dec. 31, whichever comes sooner.

House passed the bill May 28; it now goes to President Trump who is expected to sign it into law.

Since the program was created in the CARES Act, many construction firms have taken advantage of it. However, AGC has identified a number of problems with the program, and H.R. 7010 addresses several of those concerns.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/05/28/house-passes-agc-backed-ppp-loan-improvements-includes-significant-flexibilities to view the full article online.

AGC Finds Construction Spending Skids in April; Census Survey Finds Survey Hiring Rises

Construction spending fell 2.9% from March to April at a seasonally adjusted annual rate to a five-month low of $1.346 trillion, the Census Bureau reported today. Spending declined from March in 10 of the 12 public construction categories and 10 of the 11 private nonresidential categories in Census’s press release. Overall, public construction spending slid 2.5% from March to April, private nonresidential spending slipped 1.3%, and private residential spending tumbled 4.5%. Among the three largest public segments, highway and street construction fell 5.2%; educational, -2.3%; and transportation (transit, rail, airports and ports), -1.4%.

Visit https://agca.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9OTM3MTI2OSZzdWJzY3JpYmVyaWQ9MTA3MzA4MjA0Mw== to view the full article online.

Check Out These Upcoming AGC Webeds

Understanding the New A92 Changes and the Responsibilities of the Competent Person for Underground Work

June 10, 2020 1-2 p.m.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/05/01/nonresidential-construction-spending-declines-march-pandemic-halts-projects-group to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619422&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

AGC Launches Nationwide Campaign to Make Jobsites More Inclusive

AGC of America launched a nationwide program on May 13, 2020, designed to help expand the diversity of the industry by making job sites more inclusive. Called Culture of CARE (commit, attract, retain and empower), it is designed to help firms create more welcoming workplace environments for staff, particularly those from diverse demographic backgrounds.

In addition to the new program, the association has already released its Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion in the Construction Industry, which provides the economic, safety and productivity rationale for expanding construction diversity.

Visit BuildCulture.org

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619424&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Message from the President/CEO

Taking the Lead on Best Practices: Keeping Safety Viral

As we close the second week of reopening our Chapter offices, we have been making sure to do our part to keeping everyone safe with a continued focus on best practices for safety.

To that end, the Chapter has launched the "Keeping Safety Viral" campaign to underscore the need for the industry to remain vigilant. With the onset of rising temperatures, the start of hurricane season and a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases as businesses continue to reopen, we must remain vigilant in our safety best practices.

In order to help us spread the word, we will be mailing hard hat stickers to General Contractors and Specialty Contractors to share them with member of your team.

Each of us need to do our part to KEEP SAFETY VIRAL.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619575&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Governor Announces Reopening of Businesses to 50% Capacity

On June 3, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott announced the reopening of all Texas businesses to 50% capacity. This is part of the state's Phase III reopening plan.

For more information, check out the "Governor's Strike Force To Open Texas " resource page.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619589&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Nearly 1M Construction Jobs Vanish in Pandemic

Pandemic shutdowns have eliminated nearly 1 million jobs in construction, as an AGC survey reveals 40% of construction firms have reported canceled projects. That has turned a labor shortage into a surplus, and there are worries many who have lost jobs won't come back.

Visit https://www.marketplace.org/2020/06/02/construction-industry-gets-back-to-work-after-shedding-million-jobs/ to view the full article online.

Construction Slows Amid Protests

Chicago has shut down construction sites downtown, joining a number of cities where protests have led to work stoppage and damage. In other cities, contractors have voluntarily curtailed work in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

Visit https://www.enr.com/articles/49478-construction-projects-halted-fires-set-in-several-major-us-cities-amid-protests to view the full article online.

Concrete Prices Up, Lumber Prices Down

Coronavirus lockdowns caused prices of softwood lumber to decline 21.1% in April compared with March, cutting an annual gain of 26.8% in March to 2% last month, according to IHS Markit. However, prices of ready-mixed concrete increased 3.4% year over year in April, while prices of concrete pipe increased 7.9%.

Visit https://www.enr.com/articles/49376-commodity-prices-continue-decline-says-ihs-markit to view the full article online.

Senators Propose Change to PPP Tax-Deduction Rule

A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a bill that would allow tax deductions for certain costs covered by Paycheck Protection Program loans. Without the change, payroll costs and mortgage interest paid with forgiven loans will not be deductible for first- and second-quarter estimated taxes in July.

Visit https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/18/small-businesses-wont-be-able-to-deduct-some-expenses-covered-by-ppp.html to view the full article online.

Texas County Restricts Access to Flood-Bond Funding

Cities in Harris County, Texas, must adhere to the county's flood plain standards to access $2.5 billion in flood-bond money. The goal is to have more consistent rules so a city doesn't build in a way that increases flooding danger in another city.

Visit https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Harris-County-to-cities-Update-building-15280528.php to view the full article online.

Census Bureau Targets Southwest Part of Town

According to the latest statistics, the Southwest (Gulfton, Westwood and Braeburn) community was identified as one of 10 areas in Harris County with the lowest Census participation. An entire week of census outreach activities were dedicated to this area just last week.

Spread the word to your employees that they respond to the Census. We all benefit from billions of dollars in federal funding. All responses are confidential, and by law, cannot be shared with federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, ICE or even the local police.

Respond today at 2020census.gov so you can be counted, regardless of your place of origin or immigration status. Census forms are available in multiple languages.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619430&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Membership Benefits

AGC's Data Digest Provides Latest Economic Resources for Members

Data DIGest is your source for the latest economic news relevant to the construction industry with commentary and analysis from AGC's Chief Economist, Ken Simonson. It brings you actionable information to stay ahead of the curve on issues such as materials, prices, construction employment, and state-by-state construction trends.

Data DIGest is free to AGC Members - To activate your AGC Member subscription, simply create an AGC of America member profile. Members will be automatically added to Data DIGest.

Subscribe here.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619497&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Office Depot and Staples Helping Members Stock Up

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619420&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

Resources

The Heat is On! Keeping Workers Safe

Employers should have an emergency plan in place that specifies what to do if a worker has signs of heat-related illness, and ensures that medical services are available if needed.

OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Heat page explains what employers can do to keep workers safe and what workers need to know - including factors for heat illness, adapting to working in indoor and outdoor heat, protecting workers, recognizing symptoms, and first aid training.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619551&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

AGC Houston COVID-19 Recommended Practices for Construction Jobsites

AGC Houston recently compiled a recommended practices document for jobsites in English and in Spanish. As we continue to monitor the situation, it will update it as needed. Be sure to check the AGC Houston COVID-19 Resources page frequently.

What best practices are working for you? Let us know! Please send your commentsand photos to catherine.b@agchouston.org.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619415&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

COVID-19 Jobsite Posters, Videos and Other Resources

OSHA 3394 - English: 10 Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus

OSHA 3395 - Spanish: 10 Medidas que Todos los Lugares de Trabajo Pueden Tomar para Prevenir la Exposición al Coronavirus

The Department of Labor video quick tips on social distancing, disinfecting workplaces and industry risk factors to keep workers safe from COVID-19.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619416&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.

It's Hurricane Season!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=619581&issueID=69072 to view the full article online.