Construction Industry Adds Jobs, Spending Climbs

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Construction employment rose by 20,000 in September and the industry's unemployment rate fell to a six-year low of 8.5 percent, while construction spending increased for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the data does not address any potential impacts from the recent federal government shutdown. “Both of these reports show the industry was doing relatively well before the federal government shutdown forced many firms to hit the pause button,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But the shutdown likely disrupted … Read more

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TCA Announces Winners of 2013 Alphonse J. Engelman Safety Awards

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MT. VERNON, Iowa — The Tilt-Up Concrete Association recognized the winners of the Alphonse J. Engelman safety awards during TCA’s Annual Convention on Sept. 30 in Houston, Texas. The Alphonse J. Engelman Safety Awards Program honors Al Engelman, a TCA past president and board member, as well as a long-time supporter of the tilt-up industry. Engelman helped introduce this industry awards program that now bears his name. Developed to enhance the TCA’s overall mission to improve the industry through recognition and education, this program emphasizes the safety commitment and achievement throughout the membership. In 2007, this program was renamed “The … Read more

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Putting Safety in Executives’ Hands – With an App

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By Brian Thomas and Vi Nguyen More construction firms are investing in technology tools to ensure a safe environment for employees and partners. In California, Skanska USA is putting jobsite safety in the palm of its executives” hands with a new app. The company developed an electronic report using the iAuditor app to enhance jobsite safety and reinforce accountability and safety practices. Known as the executive site safety visit, or ESSV, app, it is used by executives to perform site safety inspections on jobsites such as the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s San Carlos Center and the Regional Medical Center in … Read more

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ADOSH Presents Top Safety Designation to McCarthy Building Companies at Banner Estrella Hospital

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Phoenix, Ariz. — The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Department awarded McCarthy Building Companies with top safety designation, naming the $161-million Banner Estrella Hospital expansion a “STAR Site” through the state’s Construction Voluntary Protection Program. ADOSH representatives conducted an audit of safety and health management systems and practices at the six-story, 279,000-square-foot tower project. The expansion project, which is set to open to patients in March 2014, also contains additional obstetrical suites, additional neonatal intensive care unit capacity, new cardiac catheterization labs and a new endoscopy suite. The Banner Estrella Hospital tower expansion is the only hospital … Read more

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Increased Activity in Design Firms, Increased Construction Activity Result in Steady Growth

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Turner Construction Company announced that the Third Quarter 2013 Turner Building Cost Index — which measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States — has increased to a value of 868. This reflects a 1.05 percent increase from the Second Quarter 2013 and 4.33 percent annual increase from the Third Quarter 2012. “The design and construction industry has been recovering over the past several quarters and pent up demand is resulting in increased activity in design firms,” said Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president in charge of the Cost Index. He added that material prices … Read more

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