The AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA), sponsored by WTW, is the industry’s elite safety excellence awards program.

Overdose deaths and opioid use have risen significantly in the United States, with research indicating that the risk of opioid use and overdose fatality is higher in construction than in other industries. With the March 2023 Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the first over-the counter opioid-reversal drug Naloxone nasal spray, particularly the nasal-spray brand name Narcan, it is becoming more widely available and prevalent on construction sites.

On August 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a proposal to amend its regulation authorizing which individuals can serve as representatives of employees and employers during the physical inspection of a workplace. OSHA’s proposed amendment will revise the language to authorize participation by third parties who are not employed by the employer. Historically, these individuals have provided subject matter expertise specific to the focus of the inspections, such as industrial hygienists or engineers, on behalf of OSHA or the employer. If the proposal is finalized in its current form, these individuals could potentially include worker advocacy and environmental groups, union organizers, and community activists who may seize on opportunities to advance agendas unrelated to workplace safety.

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.

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) has issued its long-anticipated final rule addressing the Standard for Determining Joint-Employer Status under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). The final rule rescinds the more narrowly tailored standard adopted by the last Board in a 2020 final rule and reinstitutes a broader standard similar to the one established by the prior Board in its ill-fated 2015 Browning-Ferris Industries decision. The standard is significant, as companies that are joint employers may be held jointly responsible for any unfair labor practices and collective bargaining obligations related to jointly employed workers.

The year’s premier conference focused on highway, transportation, and utility infrastructure contractors is one week away! While you’re waiting to attend the event on November 8-9th, plan your days by checking out the following two education sessions.