Members' Edge - January 21, 2021

Education/Training

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=657154&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

AGC Houston Scholarship Applications Now Open

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656963&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

UPCOMING CLASSES & EDUCATION EVENTS

JANUARY

27-March 3: Lean Construction Program: Units 1-7 (Virtual Option)

28: Employment Practices HR Roundtable

FEBRUARY

18: Women In Construction Online Town Hall

25: Employment Practices HR Roundtable

MARCH

18: Jobsite Innovation Forum: Q1

25: Employment Practices Committee Quarterly Meeting

APRIL
23: Texas Sales And Use Taxes For Contractors

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656964&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

A Lean Program Designed For The Commercial Construction Industry

Lean Construction Program: Units 1-7 (Virtual Option)

Begins January 27, 2021, through March 3, 2021

This class is taught online using Zoom Meetings and is a joint venture between AGC Houston, AGC of Metro DC and AGC Florida East Coast Chapters.

How lean is implemented within a construction firm can vary based on many factors, and the lean transformation is most effectively driven and planned by individuals within a firm. Following completion of this program, individuals will have a deep knowledge of both the theory and application of Lean Construction and will be able to sit for an exam to earn AGC's Certificate of Management - Lean Construction (CM-Lean) credential.

Check out all of the details.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656965&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

Safety

Upcoming Safety Classes

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656966&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

AGC National Safety Awards Application Now Open

Recognizing AGC Contractor Members for Safety Excellence since 1991, the National AGC Safety Awards (NASA) program is an ongoing effort that allows AGC members to evaluate their safety record.

Safety awards are given to members who have an incident rate 25 percent below each division's average and members who have a zero incident rate in the following divisions: Building, Highway, Heavy/Industrial, Municipal/Utilities and Associate/Specialty.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/2020_NASA_AWARD_INFORMATION_pdf.pdf to view the full article online.

AGC News

AGC Secures $10 Billion For State DOTs In Year-End Legislation

AGC helped secure $10 billion for state departments of transportation to help offset lost transportation revenues threatening bid lettings and project cancelations as part of the year-end COVID-relief and government funding bill enacted on December 27, 2020.

AGC members generated more than 50,000 messages to their members of Congress and President Trump in support of this request, in addition to many phone calls and contacts by AGC Chapters.

Visit https://www.agc.org/sites/default/files/Files/Govt%20Regulations%20and%20Executive%20Orders/AGC%20Year%20End%20Bill%20Construction%20Analysis%2012.28.20.pdf to view the full article online.

Construction Costs Squeeze Tightens In December

AGC of America's Chief Economist, Ken Simonson, revealed that a cost squeeze for contractors intensified in December as the producer price index (PPI) for nonresidential building construction — a measure of the price that contractors say they would charge to build a fixed set of buildings — inched up 0.1% from November, while the PPI for inputs to new nonresidential construction jumped 1.7%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Data Digest report was released January 15, 2021, and includes data on job starts, construction job openings, construction spending and other relevant statistics.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/12/08/construction-trade-group-sues-block-fed%E2%80%99s-unlawful-effort-change-paycheck-protection 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. Each month, we pick a new topic and sit down with experts to go in-depth on some of the most pressing subjects in the construction industry.

Search for it on your mobile device's podcast app to subscribe, or visit AGC's website for more information.

Sample podcasts:

COVID-19 Is Transforming Construction Jobsites:

Construction 3D Printing In The Here And Now - Featuring Ryan Shults, Gilbane Building Co. and Steven Koehler of Linbeck Group, LLC.

Construction Safety Excellence Showcase

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/12/21/new-coronavirus-recovery-measure-will-provide-some-needed-relief-contractors-coping to view the full article online.

Member News

ACE Mentor Program Houston Build it Forward AT HOME!

ACE Mentor Program Houston is proud to be able to offer high school students a hands-on experience even when they cannot be face-to-face!

Students are designing and BUILDING bird houses based off of their own tree house designs, which will be given to individuals in the community for enjoyment.
ACE Mentor is turning to companies and members AGC Houston for tool and supply donations.
Please click here to see what we still need and sign-up if you can help!

Founded in 2010, the program mentors high school students and inspires them to pursue careers in design and construction. Through after-school group mentoring and a robust college scholarship program, the organization is building the next generation of architects, project managers, contractors and engineers.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=657229&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

How Construction Will Be Affected Under The Biden Administration

Cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and an end to border-wall work are two examples of executive actions from President Joe Biden that affect the construction industry. Through executive orders, proclamations and other memoranda, Biden addressed issues such as COVID-19 mitigation, economic relief, combating climate change and advancing racial equity, many of which will have implications for U.S. contractors.

Visit https://www.constructiondive.com/news/how-bidens-inauguration-day-executive-orders-will-impact-construction/593636/ to view the full article online.

Dept. Of Labor Announces Annual Adjustments To OSHA Civil Penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced adjustments to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021.

OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $13,494 per violation to $13,653 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $134,937 per violation to $136,532 per violation.

Visit https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/bulletins/2b66d93 to view the full article online.

OSHA COVID-19 Enforcements

OSHA has removed 628,316 workers from COVID-19 hazards during the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020. Take a look at the stats provided by OSHA and the COVID-19 Response Summary.

Visit https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/covid-19-data to view the full article online.

Dept. Of Labor Reminds Construction Employers To Submit Required Injury Reports By March 2

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers that the agency will begin collecting calendar year 2020 Form 300A data on January 2, 2021. Employers must submit the form electronically by March 2, 2021.

Electronic submissions are required by establishments with 250 or more employees currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees classified in specific industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses.

Visit the Injury Tracking Application Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records to OSHA for more information and a link to the Injury Tracking Application.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656983&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

2021 Construction Tech Trends To Watch

Zach Mortice predicts construction technology trends for 2021 will include pocket-size lidar scanners, wireless charging for construction equipment, virtual reality inspections, aerial construction drones, and technology to assist with contract tracing for COVID-19. "As the pandemic marches on, pressure is increasing to create ways for people to experience and understand spaces virtually in order to keep safe distances," he writes.

Visit https://redshift.autodesk.com/construction-technology-2021/ to view the full article online.

Membership Benefits

Join The Largest 401(k) Plan In The Nation

The AGC Southwest Chapters 401k Plan has more than $40 million in assets.

For more information contact Stephen Ellsworth at sellsworth@rwbaird.com or 713-296-8050.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=656973&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

Meet The New Board And John Marshall, 2021 AGC Houston Chairman

The new Winter edition of Cornerstone is hot off the press and features:

Strategic Planning and Leadership Transition by Jerry Nevlud

Remaining Active and Engaged in 2021 by John Marshall
AGC Houston Rallies to Save Jobs and Soars to New Heights by Patrick J. Kiley
2021 Board of Directors and AGC Houston Chairman profile
and more!

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=657351&issueID=69088 to view the full article online.

Resources

Keeping Safety Viral During A Pandemic

Visit https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/09302020 to view the full article online.

What’s Next With The COVID‑19 Vaccine In Texas

Who’s getting the vaccine now?
If you are a front-line healthcare worker or resident of a long-term care facility, you have been eligible to receive the vaccine since December 14. This group is considered Phase 1A.

Phase 1B recipients include:

People 65 years of age and older; People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Find out more about the state's COVID-19 vaccine information including a vaccination providers map here.

Visit https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx to view the full article online.