The Associated General Contractors of America named 35 firms as the nation’s safest construction companies. The association, which oversees the Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted these companies were recognized for the strength of their safety programs and their overall safety performance during 2011. “Firms like these are setting the highest standard of safety for the construction industry,” said Kristine Young, the association’s past president and the CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based Miller the Driller. “These firms have found a way to make every single employee a zealous advocate for workplace safety.” Young said … Read more

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Extending its relationship with Phoenix Children's Hospital beyond the recently completed tower in central Phoenix, Kitchell has been tapped to build Phoenix Children's Southwest Valley Center in Avondale, Ariz. The 35,344-square-foot center will complement children's health services already in the community with comprehensive specialty and subspecialty care on weekdays and advanced pediatric urgent care on nights and weekends. Plans call for the facility to open in early 2013. Located right off the 202 at the corner of Avondale Blvd. and McDowell Road, the clinic will feature 25 patient rooms, two treatment rooms, X-ray ultrasound, MRI, fluoroscopy, six-bed … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health May 8-11, 2012, in Washington, D.C. ACCSH Work Groups will meet May 8-9, and the full committee will meet May 10-11. ACCSH, established under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, advises the Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on construction standards and policy matters. The agenda includes remarks from Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels; discussion of the Standards Improvement Project … Read more

Sales of construction equipment by the world's 50 largest manufacturers grew 25 percent last year to $182 billion, according to the annual Yellow Table survey by KHL Group. This was a record for the industry, surpassing the previous high of $168 billion, set in 2008, prior to the global financial crisis. The Yellow Table, which is a ranking of the world's 50 largest construction equipment manufacturers, saw relatively few changes at the top of the table, with the industry's long-standing number one and number two, US-based Caterpillar and Japan's Komatsu, continuing to hold the positions they have had for well … Read more