WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report released by the Construction Industry Safety Coalition found that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed silica standards for the U.S. construction industry will cost the industry $5 billion per year—roughly $4.5 billion per year more than OSHA’s estimates. The coalition cautioned the flawed cost estimates reflect deeper flaws in the rule and urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach. OSHA’s proposed rule, intended to drastically reduce the permissible exposure limit of crystalline silica for the construction industry, has been underestimated by the agency to cost the construction industry about $511 million a … Read more

The Associated General Contractors of America announced the new officers who have been selected to lead the nation’s largest construction trade association. :Chuck Greco, chairman of Houston, Texas-based Linbeck Group, will serve as president; Mark Knight, president of Webster, South Dakota-based Foothills Contracting Inc., will serve as senior vice president; Art Daniel, president and COO of Cedar Hill, Texas-based A.R. Daniel Construction, Inc. will serve as vice president and Joe Stella, president of Wakefield, Massachusetts-based P.J. Stella Construction Corp., will serve as treasurer. “During the course of my career I have had countless opportunities to observe just what a positive … Read more