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| 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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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXPEDITED PERMIT WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
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The Austin AGC has provided safety services to local contractors since 1974, and began offering workers comp through the
CompGroup AGC in the 1990s. Accordingly, we are strong supporters of workforce safety measures such as those included in resolution.
However, this resolution is problematic for several reasons, mainly:
1) The new rules will likely apply only to large, commercial projects that are typically built with the most sophisticated and well-trained workforce.
2 Concerns about added costs and unknown risk from the monitoring component will deter use of this new, expedited permit process.
3) The 30% local hiring goal does not include workers from emerging programs that AGC has worked with, including the Austin ISD and Goodwill. The hiring goal is focused on DOL-certified programs and, while those local training options are excellent, the local hiring goal should allow consideration for graduates of all local training programs.
4) The new expedited permit process should be kept as clean as possible before consideration given to including add-ons such as those approved by Council.
City staff now has 60 days to come back to City Council with a proposal to implement this wide-sweeping program.
Thank you to those who sent e-mails to the City Council on this issue. It is always important that the collective voice of the commercial construction industry be heard by local policy makers.
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CONCRETE PLACEMENT UPDATE
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On August 18 the Austin City Council (again) extended through October the
current, temporary rules
 for concrete placement at night and early mornings in downtown. A coalition of industry partners has been actively engaged with City staff and downtown resident groups and crafted a compromise solution amenable to all. At the last minute the decibel measuring component for enforcement was deemed unworkable by Austin Police. The working group will continue seeking a solution beneficial to all.
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LOCAL COMPGROUP AGC MEMBERS SHARE $1.87 MILLION in SAFETY DIVIDENDS
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Austin AGC members receive share of $1.87 million in safety dividends statewide from the CompGroup AGC & Texas Mutual.
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In August the Board of Directors of the
Compgroup AGC announced that Texas Mutual declared a 2016 safety dividend of $1,870,147 for contractors around Texas. Of that amount nearly $200,000 is going to Austin AGC members who have demonstrated a commitment to worker safety.
In addition to the check, each member also receives a pair of Texas Mutual's' Virtual Reality Glasses, marketed as
S
afety In a Box. This tool can be used to see the real life exposures to which our construction employees are exposed every day. We hope that this bilingual view of a fall, electrocution, trench collapse and a falling object will make their operations even more dedicated to ensuring that these exposures are mitigated for their employees.
With this distribution, our AGC CompGroup members throughout Texas will have received over $7M this summer from Texas Mutual and our group. This brings our total dividend distribution since 2000 to over $72M dollars!
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CITY OFFICIALS SHARE DETAILS ABOUT NEW AUSTIN CONSTRUCTION RECYCLING ORDINANCE
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Woody Raine with Austin Resource Recovery updates contractors about the new recycling ordinance.
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Last year, the Austin City Council adopted an ordinance that will require certain building projects to divert at least 50% of their construction debris from landfills. Contractors that submit permit applications beginning Oct. 1, 2016 for more than 5,000 square feet of new, added, or remodeled floor area will be subject to the new requirements.
Essentially, this ordinance expands citywide some of the green building construction material management requirements that apply downtown and in several other parts of Austin. The Austin AGC hosted a lunch & learn workshop on this ordinance in August in conjunction with Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), the city department that will administer this program.
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TEXAS CONSTRUCTION SALARY SURVEY UNDERWAY
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For more than 15 years, AGC members from chapters across Texas have participated in a comprehensive benefits and salary survey. This survey provides robust and detailed compensation data for the commercial construction industry, broken down by market region, and covering executives and employees at all levels. The survey helps you benchmark your company against the competition and make informed business decisions about compensating personnel.
The survey is open to general contractors and specialty contractors. For more information please visit www.texasconstructionsalaries.com or contact Phil Thoden at the Austin AGC. Deadline for participation is September 9.
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CLC LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
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The AGC Sporting Clays Tournament benefiting the Austin Construction Leadership Council (CLC) scheduled September 8 at the Capital City Trap and Skeet Club is now SOLD OUT! (But you
can still come out and enjoy the day with your local construction industry colleagues!)
To stay on top of all the Austin CLC activities and events, be sure to like their Facebook page and bookmark their new web page.
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OSHA 30 HOUR CLASS KICKS OFF SOON
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Take you safety knowledge and certification to the next level by getting your 30 Hour OSHA card at the Austin AGC. Safety Director Larry Connelly's next class be held for 5 hours (8am to 1pm) on each of the following days: September 8,9,15,16,22 and 23. For more information and to register, contact Larry directly via larryc@agcaustin.org.
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CONSTRUCTION RESUMES and JOB LISTINGS
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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.
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