Monthly Construction Input Prices Decrease, Says ABC

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Construction input prices fell .6% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices declined .5% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 3.7% lower than a year ago. Nonresidential construction input prices are 3.4% lower. Prices declined in all three energy subcategories. Crude petroleum prices were down 10.2% in May, while unprocessed energy materials were down 7.8%. Natural gas prices fell 2% for the month. “The headline numbers suggest broad-based deflation in construction materials prices,” said ABC … Read more

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Practice Ladder Safety All Year Long

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ladder deaths accounted for 161 on-the-job fatalities in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available. That same year, there were 22,710 ladder-related workplace injuries, an injury stat that has remained relatively constant over the previous several years. The American Ladder Institute recently marked National Ladder Safety Month, spreading the word about safe ladder practices, training opportunities and more. Because safety never takes a break, now is the time to take the lessons learned in March and carry them forward all year long. By continuing to follow ladder safety practices … Read more

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Construction Vehicle Safety Devices Must Be Fit for Purpose Says Tech Specialist

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Following the publication of a report indicating there were over 1,000 fatal injuries in the construction industry during 2020 – hundreds of which came from transportation-related incidents – Brigade Electronics is calling on the industry to ensure commercial vehicle safety devices are fit for purpose. The report, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, found that workers in demanding industries, such as construction and extraction, transportation and material moving accounted for nearly half of the 4,764 fatal occupational injuries. Due to the size of construction vehicles and machinery, visibility can be limited for operators. Complex blind spots combined with … Read more

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Tangible Ways to Improve Day-to-Day Safety Performance

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How STEP influences the role of a superintendent through leadership, culture, process + results By Joe Xavier Our people are our greatest asset, and we must take advantage of every opportunity to leverage and advance world-class safety for the construction workforce of more than 7.5 million. Safety is an essential pillar of Associated Builders and Contractors’ mission, and we strive to ensure all construction workers go home in the same — or better — condition than when they arrived on the jobsite or at the office. One of the most important tools in the journey to safety is the STEP … Read more

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Planning is Paramount: Crane Utilization on Vertical Construction Projects

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By Robert Pavelka When it comes to managing and mitigating risks on construction jobsites, few activities require a greater level of awareness or more extensive preplanning than the deployment of cranes. Whether it is a fixed tower crane that is brought in and assembled on the construction site for use throughout the project, or a mobile crane such as a crawler, hydraulic or vehicle-mounted variety, cranes have long been an essential tool for builders to effectively and efficiently erect their vertical construction projects. But the consequences of inadequate planning and errors in execution can be dire. According to the U.S. … Read more

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