ABC Backed Uniform Crane Safety Bill Passes Legislature

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — The Florida House and Senate recently unanimously passed the uniform crane safety legislation bill (HB 521) backed by Florida’s largest construction industry trade association, Associated Builders and Contractors. The bill, which is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature, ensures that a strong, uniform and statewide standard is in place.

“After a tireless five-year fight for construction worker safety, the passing of this bill will help make our worksites safer,” said Peter Dyga, President & CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, reinforcing the group’s position that individual county and municipal standards lessen understanding and hence the safety of one of the most dangerous aspects of any commercial construction site.

ABC of Florida and the Florida East Coast chapter in particular had been fighting this issue for some time including participating in an industry led lawsuit against Miami-Dade County, which was won in January 2010. In a statement to its more than 600 member companies reaching from the Space Coast to the Florida Keys, ABC-FEC recognized the bill’s House Sponsor Representative Frank Artiles and Senators Dean and Bennett on the Senate side for their efforts.

ABC and ABC Florida East Coast Chapter Associated Builders and Contractors is a national association with 74 chapters representing 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms with nearly two million employees. ABC’s membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.

ABC Florida East Coast Chapter, founded in 1968, serves nearly 550 members from the Florida Keys to the Space Coast with a wide variety of services including education and training, representation with federal, state and local governments, referral services, discounts ranging from vehicle fleets to health insurance and mobile phone service, networking and community service opportunities. For more information, visit www.abc.org and www.abceastflorida.com.