Construction Safety Week Announces 2022 Dates and Theme

  • Posted on

Construction Safety Week, an annual industrywide education and awareness event originally formed in 2014, is set for May 2-6. This year’s theme is “Connected. Supported. Safe.” The new theme reflects the enduring connection workers and leaders have to each other across the industry. Being connected builds strength, because it means individual workers are not alone in building a stronger, safer industry and creating a safe, supportive environment for everyone. Safety Week once again includes a focus on mental health issues among workers. Issues like substance abuse or depression can cause even the best worker to put others at risk. And … Read more

Filed under: eNews, SafetyTagged with: ,

Building a New Reality for Safety Training

  • Posted on

By Dan Ruane Even as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demands a high standard, construction safety continues to be an area of opportunity for the industry. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 1,008 fatalities in 2020, there remains a compelling need for improvement. All workers have the right to a safe work environment, and jobsite safety should always be a top priority for any construction company. Beyond the moral obligation, it makes financial sense. A U.S. National Safety Council survey reveals that each dollar invested in safety measures returns $2 in avoided costs. The challenge: traditionally, safety … Read more

Filed under: eNews, SafetyTagged with: , , , , , ,

Majority of Metro Areas Added Construction Jobs in 2021, Soaring Job Openings Indicate Labor Shortages Getting Worse

  • Posted on

Construction employment increased in nearly two out of three U.S. metro areas in 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Yet association officials noted that labor shortages likely kept many firms from adding even more workers. “Construction employment topped year-earlier levels in almost two-thirds of metros for the past few months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors in many areas say they would have hired even more workers if qualified candidates were available.” Job openings in construction totaled 273,000 at the end of December, an increase of … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

Surety Industry Launches Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program

  • Posted on

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program. This free program helps small, new, emerging, minority-owned and other disadvantaged contractors learn how to qualify for construction surety bonds, thereby expanding their business opportunities and providing the services and benefits of these bonds. The Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program includes two components: a set of eLearning modules available online 24/7, which can be taken on demand at the learner’s pace, and an optional mentor program with industry professionals … Read more

Filed under: eNews, NewsTagged with: , , , , ,

Construction Firms Foresee Growing Demand for Most Project Types, Reports AGC

  • Posted on

Construction contractors expect increasing demand for numerous types of projects in 2022 despite ongoing supply chain and labor challenges, as most firms plan to add workers this year, according to survey results released today by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage. The findings are detailed in Expecting Growth While Coping with the Lingering Impacts of the Pandemic: The 2022 Construction Hiring & Business Outlook. “Contractors are, overall, very optimistic about the outlook for the construction industry in 2022,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “While contractors face challenges this year, most of those will be centered on … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,