TechBrief

It’s 2021 and, 20 years after the fictional Space Odyssey, we are living in a world where we address our AI-driven computers by name with song requests, weather questions, math problems. Some of us (raise your hands) even absently thank them. And when we do, they answer.
BY A.D. THOMPSON

Help us generate a comprehensive outlook for 2022 by taking the survey today

Each year around this time, AGC asks you – our members – to predict what next year will be like for your business. AGC has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey here. AGC of America will use the survey results to help make the case with elected and appointed officials in support of key member priorities. The more people who complete the survey, the more effective the results will be in supporting our work on your behalf.

AGC of America is releasing a new series of COVID-19 vaccine PSAs designed to encourage construction professionals to get their shot. The series will feature testimonials from workers who did not get their shot, contracted COVID and nearly died. They are now urging their co-workers to get their shots. Other videos feature construction mentors talking about the value of the vaccine. You can view the current videos here. The videos urge people to visit AGC of America’s vaccine toolkit to learn more. The videos are designed to be used by any construction firm, to be shown to construction workers.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at brian.turmail@agc.org or 703-459-0238.

In response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit November 12 decision to temporarily halt (issue a stay on) the recent OSHA COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS), OSHA announced on November 17 that it “has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation.” However, OSHA also noted that it “remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies” and is considered likely to challenge the current pause on its ETS implementation and enforcement before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where the 34 cases filed against the OSHA ETS—including AGC’s—have been consolidated. It is not clear as to what the outcome regarding the ETS will be.

The November/December 2021 issue of Constructor magazine is now available! Meet Millie, the Labrador Retriever, in our cover story and read about her contributions to construction workplace safety. In addition, this issue includes the much-anticipated Future Focus section, featuring:

• How AGC and Procore are Working Together to Create a New, More Diverse Generation of Construction Leaders
• Reconnecting Nature
• The Power and Potential of AGC’s Two Philanthropic Organizations: The Foundation and AGC Charities Inc.

Although prefabrication has existed for centuries, building information modeling (BIM) and virtual design and construction (VDC) have given the construction method a boost, saving contractors time and money.
BY DEBRA WOOD

 

More and more contractors are turning to document management software to ensure crews in the field have the latest drawings to save time, prevent rework and facilitate communication.
BY DEBRA WOOD

 

We’re excited to kickoff AGC’s IT Conference Webinar Series this fall. If you missed the IT Conference, or had to choose between two sessions, here’s your opportunity to catch those dynamic speakers during this series. We scheduled two webinars each day, for a total of eight webinars. Your registration covers access to all webinars, and is complimentary for attendees of the 2021 IT Conference.