Austin Chapter AGC
Austin Chapter AGC Monthly News Update
May 2017
In This Issue
Upcoming Chapter Events
New Safety Report
Crunch Time at Capitol
Communications Workshop
Resumes and Job Listings
Quick Links

Safety Services

Bidding Information

iSqFt

 Construction Leadership Council 

 

Texas Builds

 
 
CompGroup AGC offers workers' compensation coverage exclusively for commercial construction contractors and sub-contractors. Through our partnership with Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the state's leading writer of workers' compensation insurance, CompGroup AGC is able to offer competitive rates, responsive customer service, expert claim handling and extensive loss prevention training and safety programs.
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UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS

Safety training available on demand!  Contact Rob Williams to schedule. 
AGC RELEASES NATIONAL SAFETY REPORT to HELP COMPANIES FURTHER PREVENT INJURIES and FATALITIES
   
AGC of America President Stephen Sandherr discusses new safety report with local Austin press.
 
In April the Associated General Contractors of America unveiled a new  study  designed to improve the safety of construction workers and prevent workplace fatalities and injuries. The national study was released here in Austin on a local Sabre Commercial site .
"We all share a common goal: getting to zero construction fatalities," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer.  "This report offers the kind of data and recommendations needed to help construction firms achieve that goal."
Sandherr noted that the association worked with the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech University to undertake the comprehensive study of every construction fatality that took place over a three-year period.  He noted that the best way to help construction firms put in place the most effective safety measures is to understand why, when and how construction fatalities occur.
Some of the findings in the report reinforce existing safety practices and many of the association's long-standing safety programs, Sandherr noted. For example, falls from ladders and other structures account for one-third of U.S. construction fatalities. This confirms the association's and industry's longstanding focus on offering training and safety stand-downs addressing fall protection.  Sandherr added that the association is now also looking to establish new training programs designed to improve ladder safety.
Some of the other findings, however, are contrary to a number of long-held industry safety assumptions, he noted.  For example, while prior research indicated most construction fatalities occur in the morning, in fact noon is the deadliest hour in construction. As a result, Sandherr said the association is now advising construction firms to look at holding safety talks and stretching sessions when workers return from the 11 a.m. to noon lunch breaks common on most job sites.
The press event coincided with a toolbox talk, led by Austin AGC Safety Director Rob Williams, on the importance of water and preventing heat stroke in the coming summer months.  Local news outlet Univision ran a story on this report release and it can be viewed by clicking here . 
Download the AGC report here.
   Workers gather for a Toolbox Talk about avoiding heat stress/stroke in the coming warm months.
CRUNCH TIME at the CAPITOL as SESSION NEARS COMPLETION 

As the Texas House and Senate inch closer to the May 28 end of session deadline, several priority bills for the AGC Texas Building Branch (TBB) are in play.

House Bill 2128 by Rep. John Cyrier (R-Lockhart)  has passed in the House by a 143-0 vote, and now moves to the Senate where it will be carried by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola). If approved there, it will head to the governor. 

Cyrier's bill would allow for the recovery of attorney's fees that are equitable and just under the law, which can currently only be collected at an hourly rate and if expressly written in the contract.   Furthermore, Cyrier's bill would include oral change orders when collecting damages for state breach of contract. Currently, the law only allows for written orders to be collected when the state breaches a deal.

House Bill 2121 by Rep. John Cyrier (R-Lockhart) was placed on the General State Calendar on May 8. The bill, which passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee, provides for recovery of attorney's fees when the state breaches engineering, architectural or construction services contracts under $250,000. 

House Bill 2343 by Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) was placed on the General State Calendar on May 9. The measure, which also passed unanimously out of the House Business & Industry Committee, would allow contractors to repair construction defects before being sued.

A bill to  decide when the state's mandatory background check applies to school construction projects -  HB 3270  by  Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston)  - was voted out of the House on May 9 and is pending in the Senate.

Another bill -  HB 3065  by Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont)  - would simplify and streamline the state's lien process with an online system that eliminates hidden claims and fixes notice issues.  The House Business & Industry Committee voted the bill out of committee by a 7-0 margin, and it now heads to the Calendars Committee to await a vote by the full House. 

HB 3434 by Linda Koop (R-Dallas)  would create a uniform set of standards for construction contracts by state agencies, which school construction contracts would be required to operate under. The bill passed out of the House Public Education Committee on a 11-0 vote, and is heading to Calendars.

For a full debrief on the legislative session and an opportunity to network with construction colleagues from around Texas, come to the  annual TBB Convention being held this June 18-21!

   



MAKE YOUR MESSAGE MEMORABLE & COMMUNICATE CLEARLY!

Join communications expert Anthony Huey for this excellent, 3 hour class.
 
Please join the Austin AGC and the  Austin Construction Leadership Council (CLC) at the offices of Hensel Phelps on May 16 for an excellent communications workshop!

Whether you realize it or not, your communication skills are constantly being judged by others, often subconsciously. How you communicate in everything from casual conversations to formal presentations can be the difference between success and failure. Don't miss what is often your only opportunity to connect and leave a lasting impression. 

This highly interactive, hands-on session teaches effective ways to communicate your messages to a wide variety of audiences you deal with every day in construction, including owners and the project team, prospects, internal staff, field personnel, boards of directors and management, community partners, the news media, elected officials, investors, and many others in the industry. 

Anthony Huey has worked successfully around the country with thousands of construction professionals in companies both large and small.  From formal speaking, to business meetings and presentations to one-on-one conversations, this session is designed to make you and your team more dynamic communicators.   

CONSTRUCTION RESUMES and JOB LISTINGS 
AGC Chapters around Texas have formed a partner website called  texasconstructioncareers.com   to  help you find employment or an employee.  Check out the job bank page to post yo ur resume or review potential hires.