Sprayfoam Pro Newswire

 

SPFA is providing a printed two-page handout on new SPF blowing agent regulations and GWP impact information from our recent EPDs to more than 200 attendees of the 2021 Architectural Plastics and Polymer Composites in the 21st Century Conference on March 20-22, 2021 in Cambridge, MA.  This is the first document SPFA has developed for its new Counting Carbon program.  SPF contractors and suppliers may find this useful when discussing the new blowing agents and their impacts with architects, design professionals and concerned building owners.   Stay tuned for more Counting Carbon publications from SPFA.  Please contact Rick Duncan if you would like to learn more about this program  rickduncan@sprayfoam.org. 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg told a virtual conference of engineers that now is the time to act on a generational opportunity to fix America’s crumbling infrastructure.

Despite massive coronavirus-induced layoffs over the past 12 months, construction employees are becoming harder to find and more expensive, a new report found. In January 2021, average hourly earnings of construction employees reached their highest level ever, $32.11, and average weekly hours worked rose to their highest level since 2019’s third quarter. 

The new calculation is important for millions of sole proprietors and self-employed and gig workers in the U.S., as it will lead to larger forgivable loans through the program.

As discussed in this article, an audit report by the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concludes that the number of 2020 pandemic-era OSHA inspections are down dramatically from the number of 2019 pre-pandemic inspections, despite a 15% rise in the number of complaints. The OIG audit report recommends renewed emphasis on inspections by tracking and assessing hazard abatement from remote inspections and prioritizing employers whose employees are at greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure. The OIG report also supports adopting a national Emergency Temporary Standard to address COVID-19 workplace exposures. OSHA is expected to release such a standard by March 15, 2021.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on what precautions are still necessary after someone has been fully vaccinated. The guidance cautions that while it may be safe to gather indoors with others who have been fully vaccinated, mask wearing is still recommended in public and when gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one household. The CDC also recommends that people fully vaccinated avoid medium and large-sized gatherings, delay domestic and international travel, and continue to follow workplace guidance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on what precautions are still necessary after someone has been fully vaccinated. The guidance cautions that while it may be safe to gather indoors with others who have been fully vaccinated, mask wearing is still recommended in public and when gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one household. The CDC also recommends that people fully vaccinated avoid medium and large-sized gatherings, delay domestic and international travel, and continue to follow workplace guidance.

 

 

 

 

SPFA is doing its part to bring awareness of open positions in the industry to our members, partners, and untapped talent pools. For every one of these positions going unfilled it’s an opportunity missed, an extra staffing challenge drawing attention away from other important priorities, or a customer perhaps needing to wait longer than they should have to. 

SPFA has joined forces with NRCA and ­­36 other roofing trade associations to sponsor Roofing Day in DC 2021. While traditionally an in-person event in Washington, DC, this year’s activities consist of a series of virtual meetings with each participant’s Congressional representatives. The agenda for this joint advocacy effort covers three key issues. If you work in the roofing industry, you should be there! Any SPFA-member can be a participant, but you must register by March 16. Registration is only $59 for company representatives and $25 for field workers and students.

 

“Critical Contract Provisions for Sprayfoam Contractors”, presented by Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Attorneys and Consultants.   Watch for more event details and registration in the SPFA Events Calendar on www.sprayfoam.org. 

SprayWorks Equipment is launching its new free online spray foam training, titled Introduction to Insulation Spray Foam. The free training is a first step for new foamers or new business owners looking to understand the basics of spray foam.