On April 24, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plans to consult the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) on its proposed regulatory framework for the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule.
The 2024 AGC/FMI Study highlights key risks in the construction industry. Based on responses from AGC's in-house risk managers workgroup (collected Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024), the top concerns include labor shortages, design issues, changes in insurance terms and costs, project delays or cancellations, and changes in contract language. However, one of the most alarming trends highlighted by the study is the uptick in subcontractor defaults. Seventy percent of respondents are seeing an increase in subcontractor defaults compared to one year ago, with nearly half reporting firsthand experience of project disruptions due to subcontractor defaults. Root causes behind subcontractor distress include financial instability, lack of skilled labor, and quality issues -- especially affecting electrical, plumbing, and concrete trades. In response, construction risk managers are enhancing subcontractor prequalification measures, including more thorough financial and staffing evaluations, seeking out new subcontractors, and increasing review frequency.
AGC of America and its co-plaintiffs challenging the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB” or “Board”) joint-employer rule in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas were handed a big win on March 8. The judge in Chamber of Commerce v. NLRB vacated the rule – which was finalized in 2023 and scheduled to take effect March 11 – in its entirety. The judge also vacated the Board’s recission of a rule issued by the previous Board in 2020.
Construction employment increased in 37 states in January from a year earlier, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that demand for construction remains strong in many parts of the country, but cautioned that labor shortages are restraining employment gains in the sector.
Rule Implementation on Hold Due to Litigation
Change can be difficult. Newly added guidance available from the AGC Contract Documents Forum helps members navigate change in design-build construction contracts and beyond.
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Digital Delivery/Digital As-Builts (DABs) two-day virtual experience is the capstone event for the Every Day Counts 6 initiative taking place on March 20th and 21st. Join as they gather public and private sector subject matter experts, entrepreneurs, and solution providers in a collaborative virtual event. Be part of the innovation, energy and connectivity between DABs and the larger digitalization efforts that the DOTs are leading.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In. This meeting gives members an opportunity to hear from key transportation policy officials in DC and the opportunity to set up meetings with their congressional delegations to take the message of sound transportation infrastructure investment and policy directly to their Senators, Representatives, and their staff.