Employers will want to keep an eye on this story. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is mulling over new rules that to prohibit companies from discouraging or penalizing employees from reporting injuries and illnesses. That includes threatening to fire or discipline them. TheHill.com reports that the public has 60 days to comment on…(Read More)
Curtailing the costs of vehicles on the road can be a challenge, but it is possible to keep expenses down. National fleet incentives and factory orders should be considered when purchasing or upgrading. And a lifecycle cost analysis should be conducted. “While different makes and models will fit your specs, they’ll each return different…(Read More)
The 3rd Annual Construction Technology Report has been released. Some 1,000 builders were asked about IT staffing, outsourcing, R&D, and cloud solutions used during the building process. James Benham, president of JB Knowledge, a technology consulting company for the construction industry, said most companies still lack the infrastructure to integrate mobile with…(Read More)
The tallest, strongest, and mightiest cranes of the modern world are truly a sight to see. A post on FieldLens.com features a few monster cranes, like the Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1, built by Liebherr Group in Germany. It’s a mobile crane that can lift 1,200 metric tons, which is equivalent to…(Read More)
Gensler, CH2M HILL, and AECOM Technology Corp., have been named the top three architecture firms in the world, according to Engineering News-Record. For the third consecutive year, Gensler grabbed the No. 1 spot. CEO Andy Cohen says 2013’s success can be attributed to the consistent designs the firm provides to an increasingly interconnected…(Read More)
“Those who design and construct buildings are required to look decades into the future and are expected to provide owners with their best advice on how and where they should proceed with their projects,” writes Don Jacobson in The Star Tribune. “Those considerations can include everything from what kind of materials to use that can…(Read More)
The remainder of 2014 looks promising for the construction industry. Leaders from the Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Institute of Architects are among those predicting economic improvements will last into 2015. Low interest rates and surging energy production are two of the factors driving the uptick. http://www.constructionmagnet.com/rural-builder…(Read More)
Construction companies are digging deeper into their pockets when purchasing materials and supplies. There have been fractional increases these past few months, which has gotten the attention of Chief Economist Anirban Basu of the Associated Builders and Contractors. Prices may continue to rise—albeit modestly—through the rest of 2014. Materials including softwood lumber, crude…(Read More)
As the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration keeps a watchful eye on workplace safety, one statistic is raising a red flag. There’s a growing number of less experienced workers getting injured and dying on jobsites. Dean McKenzie, deputy director of OSHA’s directorate for construction, says an increase in construction-related deaths…(Read More)
Managing mega construction projects can bring mega complexities and mega headaches. The secret to keeping problems to a minimal is early planning and superior project management. This post on AreaDevelopment.com offers several recommendations when managing huge infrastructure initiatives or complex plant development projects. PMs must assign project tasks early, choose the right project delivery…(Read More)
