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See what delivers results and keep up to date with important news topics within our industry.
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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: WEST VIRGINIA LEADS THE NATION IN CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT
Just a few years ago, West Virginia ranked last in the nation for construction employment.
The state actually ranked lower than last, coming in at No. 51 behind Washington, D.C., according to Mike Clowser, executive director of the Contractors Association of West Virginia,
“The last four or five years were a very difficult time for West Virginia construction companies,” he said. “It was a very difficult time for people to make a living working. We went over a year being rock bottom in the country.”
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WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAYS ABOUT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE KAVANAUGH
As construction industry officials pore over the many rulings authored by federal appellate Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court, they see a philosophy that relies on, and not beyond, the text of federal statutes and regulations.
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BUSINESS TOOLBOX: MAXIMIZING CASH FLOW
Having cash at the ready to procure materials, pay salaries, fund new projects and finance all the other functions of a construction business is essential for the smooth operation of a company. When financial obligations outpace the influx of money, it doesn’t take long for a business to become overwhelmed by debt or, in the worst-case scenario, go under.
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TIPS TO HELP WOMEN OPTIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL IN THE MALE-DOMINATED CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
As development surges, women in the construction industry face, and should embrace, opportunities to advance their careers and work on impactful projects. While the “maleness” of the industry can present challenges for women, certain tools are available to assist in the success of women in the construction industry. These tools include networking, teaming up with a mentor and finding a balance in life, family and work.
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GOV. JIM JUSTICE: NEW WELLSBURG-TO-BRILLIANT BRIDGE WILL BRING ECONOMIC GROWTH
Eighteen years,”
said Justice.
“A lot of you have been at this for 18 years. I don’t know how you stood it for 18 years.”
The bridge, he said, will be
“an engineering accomplishment beyond belief”
and an improvement to the region’s transportation system. It also will help to foster economic development, he said.
“I absolutely believe good things are coming,”
Justice said.
Beech Bottom Mayor Becky Uhlly also said she was optimistic.
“(The bridge) is going open up the whole southern end of Brooke County for commercial and residential development,”
she said.
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WHEELING COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON PUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING LEVY BEFORE VOTERS
The city of Wheeling may be asking voters this fall not just for a $20 million public safety building, but also funding for improvements to fire stations and the purchase of a new fire truck.
According to City Manager Robert Herron, an ordinance establishing a levy will be on city council’s agenda next week.
Language contained in the ordinance provides details as to just what voters might be asked to approve if the levy goes on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
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HIGHWAYS CREATE OPPORTUNITY IN WEST VIRGINIA
The biggest investment in highways in several decades is happening throughout the state of West Virginia.
West Virginia citizens last fall voted overwhelmingly in favor of the
Roads to Prosperity
amendment, authorizing the sale of $1.6 billion in bonds to finance hundreds of roads projects that will impact the state for many decades to come. Other bonds will be sold using West Virginia Turnpike revenue.
“This is a huge step forward in our $2 billion-plus program that is going to absolutely transform West Virginia,” Gov. Jim Justice said upon completion of a bond sale in May. “The benefits from this are tremendous — all kinds of construction jobs now, and then long-term economic gains from improved roads and bridges.”
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WVDOH TO DECIDE ON TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IN WHEELING NEXT WEEK
“One of the centerpieces of my campaign for mayor was the need for us to restore Downtown Wheeling’s status as a destination location by bringing back first floor retail and supporting it with upper-floor residential living options,” he said. “Two-way traffic is just one piece of the puzzle in this regard, but I believe it to be an important piece. We need to think of downtown more as a neighborhood and less as a group of buildings situated on (W.Va. 2).”
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DEVELOPER PLANS $2B PLANET OASIS COMPLEX IN OHIO
Developer Blue Horseshoe Ventures announced, according to
The Columbus Dispatch,
that it will build a $2 billion "experiential" sports, recreation and entertainment complex on a 350-acre parcel next to a Tanger Outlet Mall in Sunbury, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.
Planet Oasis, which will include a 500-seat amphitheater, 70 restaurants, a conference center and hotels, was referred to as the Blue Horseshoe CEO David Glimcher as the "ultimate entertainment experience." The Ohio Department of Tourism said it is hoping that the project will draw in a hefty portion of the 100 million people living within a five-hour car ride.
Glimcher said construction should start this December, with 40% of the complex opening by late 2019. But Ohio Department of Transportation officials said they have not received a traffic impact study for the development and have only had one meeting with county officials about Planet Oasis. There must also be a public comment period after the study is complete, along with the finalization of financing and scheduling plans.
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MAKING PROGRESS: SHELL'S ETHANE CRACKER PLANT
Nine months ago construction began for Shell’s $6 billion ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA. The project development includes building bridges, relocating a state highway, improving the existing interchanges, re-positioning the rail line, and prepping foundations for the new complex.
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DESIGN-BUILD TO DELIVER ALMOST HALF OF US PROJECTS BY 2021
Design-bid-build (DBB) is the
most widely used project delivery method
in the United States, according to the Lean Construction Institute of America and other groups. Under this method, an owner contracts separately with a designer, who provides complete design documents, and a contractor, who provides the most attractive price bid to execute that design.
But new research from consulting firm Fails Management Institute (FMI) indicates that the design-build (DB) delivery method, where an owner contracts with a single entity to perform both design and construction, is quickly gaining traction in the industry. According to the June 2018
“Design-Build Utilization” report
, DB methods will represent nearly half, or 44%, of construction put-in-place (CPiP) spending across many market segments by 2021.
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WHEN IS #METOO COMING TO MY WORKPLACE? EIGHT THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW
As a sociologist who studies feminist activism, I often get asked when and how the #MeToo movement is going to trickle down. This is a fair question, and not one easy to answer.
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Nursing Corps
offers companies the ability to become more efficient, reduce costs and improve convenience in obtaining: Respirator Qualification, Drug/Alcohol Testing, Blood Biological Monitoring, drug-free workplace services and other Medical Services, including, injury management and OSHA recordability management. NCI – Nursing Corps’ Nursing Station (larger projects) is the investment in reducing recordable injuries by managing “first-aid” and advising contractors on medical risks. By specializing in the construction industry, we have learned that prompt, flexible, and reliable service is required for every project.
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The House and Senate resumed a regular committee schedule and floor voting schedule during the last two weeks of June before their summer recess. However, the Senate did return to Columbus the week of July 9th to pass a pay day lending bill. With it being an election year, members will now focus on the November election as roughly half the Ohio Senate seats are on the ballot, all of the Ohio House, and all statewide offices. Both House and Senate leaders scheduled some tentative session dates in August and September. After the November 6 election, there will be a hectic lame duck session.
HB 551
(
Perales, Romanchuk)
Minor Workers
The bill deals with hazardous occupations prohibited for minors. It would provide training to certain minors employed in construction or manufacturing.
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Ohio Manufacturers Association, and the NFIB testified for the bill. The bill would allow sixteen and seventeen year olds to work on construction and manufacturing job sites. The 16-17 year olds would have to go through this training.
(a) A ten-hour course in construction or general industry safety and health hazard recognition and prevention approved by the occupational safety and health administration of the United States department of labor;
(b) Instructions on how to operate the specific tools the minor will use during the minor's employment;
(c) The general safety and health hazards to which the minor may be exposed at the minor's workplace;
a minor may participate in a thirty-hour course in construction or general industry safety and health hazard recognition and prevention approved by the occupational safety and health administration if the minor has already successfully completed a ten-hour course.
Other provisions include: the employer paying any costs associated with providing the training and the Ohio Department of Commerce making rules specifying a list of tools 16-17 years may operate.
Late in June session, the bill was up for a third hearing and possible vote out of the House Economic Development Commerce and Labor Committee.
HB 127
(
Perales, Dever)
Steel Welding
The bill establishes in the Ohio Building Code requirements pertaining to structural steel welding.
The bill has had several hearings last year.. The Iron Workers District Council and an Ironworker apprenticeship instructor have testified on the bill. Last month the bill had a hearing in the House Economic Development and Commerce and Labor Committee. A substitute bill was accepted, and the bill was reported out of committee. It awaits a full House vote. The bill would then have to go over to the Senate. Some of the changes in the substitute bill include:
- Transfers responsibility for implementing the legislation from the Board of Building Standards to the superintendent of industrial compliance.
- Requires the superintendent or a building official certified by him or her to enforce the new welding standards.
- Authorizes the superintendent to certify local building departments, personnel and private firms to conduct inspections of the welding standards.
- Eliminates references to bridge welding, rendering the bill only applicable to structural welding. Exempts from the bill's structural steel welding requirements certain buildings and any welding that is required by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to have its own certification.
- Enables a locality without a certified department to adopt another department or private third party to do the inspections or enforcement.
- Allows the superintendent to investigate departments and revoke certifications.
- Allows the superintendent to adopt rules to implement the bills, govern inspections and record keeping, establish fees, implement and administer the bill's provisions.
- Requires a contractor, subcontractor, or project manager who is responsible for the structural steel welding on a construction project to ensure that standards related to welding and welding inspections be met in all construction projects covered by the bill.
- Authorizes the Superintendent of Industrial Compliance to certify municipal, township, and county building departments or private third parties to inspect structural steel welding projects to determine that the welding complies with the bill's requirements
For more information, please see the bill analysis attached
here
:
HB 712
(
Hood,Dean)
Prevailing Wage
On June 26, 2018; a bill was introduced to repeal the Prevailing Wage Law. Representative Ron Hood has repeatedly introduced similar types of bills. While this bill was introduced late in session and has not had many hearings in the past. The OVCEC remains steadfast against attacks like these on Ohio Prevailing Wage Law.
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OVCEC Education Survey
Help us improve our educational opportunities!
Take the 2018 OVCEC Training Survey
today to help us better serve your educational needs!
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TECH TOOLS INCREASE ONSITE SAFETY
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Safe + Sound Campaign: Register + Participate
Safe + Sound Week 2018, a nationwide event to raise awareness and understanding of the value of workplace safety and health programs, will be held August 13-19. It is an opportunity for employers to show commitment to health and safety by launching or renewing efforts to identify and manage hazards before they cause injuries or illnesses.
- Visit the Safe + Sound Week webpage to register your organization as a participant and get ideas on how to recognize the week in your workplace.
- Join the June 26 webinar to learn more about Safe + Sound Week, the tools and resources available, and how to participate.
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New Publications Available from OSHA
New Webpage Provides Safety Information on Workplace Chemicals
OSHA’s new
O
ccupational Chemical Database
compiles information from several government agencies and organizations into one online resource. The webpage includes chemical identification and physical properties, permissible exposure limits (PELs), and sampling information. Chemicals can be searched by name or identification number, or grouped by PEL, carcinogenic level, or whether they pose an immediate threat when inhaled.
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OSHA Postpones Enforcement of Certain Provisions of Beryllium Standard to August 9
OSHA is postponing enforcement of certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry. Requirements originally scheduled for enforcement on June 25 will not be enforced until Aug. 9. The requirements include beryllium work areas, regulated work areas, methods of compliance, personal protective clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, housekeeping, communication of hazards, and recordkeeping. For more information, read the
memorandum
.
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A di
What Is the Plan Room?
- It is a conveniently located source of construction plans for the Ohio Valley area
- It publishes a weekly Construction Report listing projects out for bid, due dates, apparent low bidders and contracts awarded
- It provides updates on projects throughout the week by email
- It provides online access to plans and specifications for your review and downloading
- It provides bidders lists
- It has staff that will get the plans you need whenever possible
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Submit Plans & Specs
As an Owner or Architect of a project, placing your project plans in the OVCEC Plan Room will help to insure the success of your project.
The Plan Room will:
- Help you publicize your project
- Increase the quantity and quality of bids you receive for your project
- Help you get addenda out to bidders
- Reduce your cost of blueprint duplication by allowing electronic submission to Plan Room Online
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