Safety & Health

On January 18 – 19, 2016, AGC safety and health committee volunteers will be conducting their initial review of applications submitted for this year’s Willis/AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA).  This year we have 98 companies from across the nation vying for the best of the best in construction safety and health.  The purpose of the CSEA is to recognize AGC member companies who excel at safety performance.  The review will examine each applicant’s commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control.  Unlike other safety awards programs that limit the criteria to injury and illness frequency rates, the CSEA selection process is considerably more comprehensive.  After the initial review judging, the finalists in each divisional category are notified and will compete at the 97th AGC Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX. The winners, including the grand award winner, will then be announced at the Willis Safety Awards Breakfast on March 10, 2016.

The Bipartisan Budget Act removes a statutory exemption from penalties under certain statutes, including the Occupational Safety & Health Act, from inflation for civil penalties. Unlike other similar civil penalties in federal law, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalties have been explicitly exempted from inflation since they were created in 1990. Under the Budget Act, OSHA will now have to report on their adjustment in their annual financial statements and via the Government Accountability Office. The bill also allows the agency to use a “catch up” formula to make up to 150 percent adjustments in the penalty in the first year to meet current inflation levels. The Secretary could limit the increases if there’s a negative economic impact that outweighs benefits and any proposed increase in penalties would go through the formal notice and comment process.

As a professional working in the Business Development world, you are probably acutely aware that the reason for your existence is to Develop Business and that entails more than fine dining and golf! Pre-Winning plays a large role in your company’s ability to secure the type of work, and build the type of relationships, that will produce the desired results.

The Associated General Contractors of America will continue to provide highway work zone safety training classes next year thanks to a new federal safety grant the association earned.  The association will use the $120,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to offer the safety training classes designed to prevent injuries among highway, street and bridge construction workers, officials said.