On September 20, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a notice for proposed rulemaking addressing a variety of work zone safety issues near highways. Many of the proposed changes aim to modernize standards that had last been updated in the early 2000s, but substantial changes were proposed for topics such as measuring safety standards, reviews of state DOT’s safety programs, and the use cases for positive protection devices.
On November 9, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the newly updated EM 385-1-1 has been finalized. The manual details safety and health requirements for all USACE construction activities and operations, including Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) construction contracts.
On November 3, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel delivered their final report on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) potential Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Settings standard to OSHA. The agency has posted the report to the assigned regulatory docket and posted it on its Heat Injury and Illness SBREFA webpage.
On November 13, AGC along with twenty-two of its Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) partners, submitted comments raising significant concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) proposal to expand who can serve as the employee representative during the walkaround portion of enforcement inspections.
Help Us Generate a Comprehensive Outlook for 2024 by Taking the Survey Each year around this time, AGC asks you – our members – to predict what next year will be like for your business. AGC has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey here. AGC of America will use the survey results to help make the case with elected and appointed officials in support of key member priorities. The more people who complete the survey by Thursday, December 7, the more effective the results will be in supporting our work on your behalf.
Introducing "AGC's Construction Risk Insights," a valuable resource dedicated to enhancing risk management practices and optimizing project success within the construction industry. Check out Issue #1 here. We're thrilled to unveil this newsletter, designed exclusively for the AGC community. Delve into a wealth of AGC-focused content encompassing critical areas such as construction contracts, insurance, bonding, safety, labor, environment, finance, technology, and beyond. Join our growing community of industry leaders - subscribe online at https://www.agc.org/news/newsletter and elevate your risk management expertise with AGC.
On September 19, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded approximately $12.7 million in grants to 100 non-profit organizations across the nation to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards, employ injury prevention and understand workers' rights and employers' responsibilities under federal law.
The AGC Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum meets virtually on a quarterly basis to gather/share information, resources, and best practices among stakeholders in the construction industry. The next forum is scheduled for October 18, 2pm – 3pm, Eastern Time. If you would like to participate in the forum, please sign up here. You are encouraged to browse the website created to house important and lifesaving tools related to mental health and suicide prevention.
During a series of Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel discussions convened by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), between September 7 and 19, AGC members John Morris (President, Morris Inc.), Kellie Kimball (Vice President, Holes Inc.), and Anthony E. Gonzalez (Partner, The Gonzalez Group) provided critical testimony on the potential impacts of OSHA’s proposed heat standard on small businesses in construction.
On September 18, AGC, along with industry partners on the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC), submitted comments in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) notice of proposed rulemaking to require employers to provide employees with “proper-fitting” Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This move would align the construction, general industry, and maritime standards related to PPE, but raises significant concerns due to the ambiguity of the proposed language and lack of clarity surrounding compliance obligations and enforcement.