WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people requesting unemployment benefits declined last week for the second straight week, and productivity in the spring fell by the largest amount in nearly four years while labor costs rose.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Sept. 7 released a draft version of the Form 8941 that businesses will use to calculate the small business health care tax credit when filing income taxes in 2011. The final version of the form will be available later this year.

Over the last few years, Seattle contractors and owners involved in highly visible construction sites, have had the pleasure of enduring banners by labor unions proclaiming them “unfair” or worse.

Is construction accounting headed for a troublesome shake-up? A proposed new rule aimed at aligning financial reporting by construction firms with other industries could bring sweeping changes to long-held, generally accepted accounting principles. Critics warn the new rule could significantly raise administrative costs, open the door to financial manipulation and dampen surety credit.

The Department of Revenue has created a new tool for businesses to verify their customers’ reseller permit information.

President Obama proposed a $50 billion plan Monday to fix roads, rail lines and airport runways, part of an effort to deal with high unemployment less than two months before pivotal congressional elections.

The unemployment rate for the construction industry edged down to 17 percent in August compared to 17.3 percent one month earlier, according to September 3 employment report by the Department of Labor. In contrast, the nonresidential building construction sector lost 200 jobs last month and has lost 31,900 jobs, or 7.4 percent, over the past year. Nonresidential building construction employment now stands at 682,400 jobs.

The capability to provide artificial sunlight has dramatically expanded the boundaries of time and space, adding hours to the day when we may see and illuminating where sunlight was unable to penetrate. Since the first humans carried a torch to provide light, heat has been a by-product of producing light.

Despite a downturn in overall construction activity, private nonresidential construction spending was up 0.8 percent in July – the first increase since March 2009, according to the Sept. 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, on year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is down 23.7 percent.

ABC Aug. 17 sent a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) asking the agency to delay implementation of the work practice provisions its new final rule on crane and derrick safety until contractors have had a reasonable amount of time to review official compliance assistance material, which has yet to be issued.

The economic slowdown caused the second consecutive decline in the construction materials price index with a 1.1% fall in July. The largest declines were for steel, copper, lumber and gypsum products.

U.S. economic growth in 2010’s second quarter has been revised down to 1.6% by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In the BEA’s first estimate for Q2 – also known as the advance estimate – the figure was a higher 2.4%. The 1.6% is less than half of the first quarter’s 3.7%.

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--President Barack Obama on Monday said his economic team is working to identify new measures to stimulate U.S. growth as part of a "full-scale attack" to strengthen the lackluster economy.

The public soon can nominate its favorite community-based corporations for Washington’s highest civics award.

Work on more than 40 percent of infrastructure projects spurred by the federal stimulus plan is complete, a Congressional panel said on Thursday, as the $814 billion package of spending and tax measures enters its final months.

The heavy construction market remains stalled. Although jobsite spending increased 2.0% in June the gain was only back to last June’s level. The only two positive market drivers are construction equipment shipments and airline passenger traffic.

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Aug. 19 reported that construction fatalities in 2009 fell 16 percent to 816, making it the lowest fatality rate in 18 years, according to preliminary numbers. The final report will be released in April 2010.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Aug. 6 released a memo announcing changes to the OSHA Outreach Training Program for the 10- and 30-hour courses.

July construction starts increased 3.2% from the previous month. This is approximately stable activity after discounting for the usual small seasonal gain and allowing for a cut in residential starts when the July estimate is released by the Census Bureau.

A few weeks ago, the EPA released its Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments. The toolkit is designed to assist local governments in identifying and removing permitting barriers to sustainable design and green building practices. It provides a resource for communities interested in conducting their own internal evaluation of how local codes/ordinances either facilitate or impede a sustainable built environment, including the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of a building and its immediate site.

U.S. employment fell by 131,000 in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported. This was less than June’s decline of 221,000, but it was disappointing nonetheless after the substantial month-to-month gains earlier in the year. From January to May, the U.S. picked up 1.0 million jobs.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

ABC Aug. 18 applauded the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for removing a proposed, mandatory project labor agreement (PLA) for the construction of a $100 million to $250 million technical applications center at Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, Fla.

Although prices for construction materials and supplies were 4.5 percent higher in July 2010 than July 2009, prices inched 0.2 percent lower on a monthly basis, according to the Aug. 17 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department.

Not everyone who believes in the future of green buildings can build one themselves, but investing in real estate companies that share this conviction is an increasingly viable option.

Under a new Interim Rule issued by the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, federal contractors are required to identify first-tier subcontract awards on contracts and orders expected to amount to at least $25,000 and report annually the total compensation of the contractors’ and first-tier subcontractors’ top five executives for the preceding fiscal year. The Interim Rule is effective immediately.

Back in the mid-80s there was a film released called Gung Ho that was about a shuttered Midwest car factory purchased by a Japanese auto manufacturer. The factory is re-opened with the new owner’s management team in place, freshly transplanted from Japan.

These exciting courses examine the most up-to-date techniques in the management of sediment and construction sites.

Come to the 14th annual Washington Small Business Fair – learn from the experts how to form and run a successful business.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) July 27 internally announced plans to suspend its national emphasis program (NEP) targeting employer under-recording of injuries and illnesses after failing to find a significant number or degree of violations through the program.

ABC is supporting an amendment (S. Amdt. 4519) to the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297) that would repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Aug. 9 issued a final rule updating work practice, training and certification requirements for crane and derrick safety in the construction industry.

ABC Aug. 11 hailed the introduction of the American Job Builders Tax Reform Act of 2010 (H.R. 6097), a bipartisan bill, sponsored by Reps. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), that will modify the tax code to help small construction contractors that are facing increased costs in energy, labor and materials.

The economy has lost the growth momentum it had for almost a year. This was not unexpected and is not unusual at this stage of a recovery. The huge pump-priming efforts in 2009 could not be sustained because they did not generate enough income to pay for their extension.

More than 4,800 Washington state businesses have been assisted by a new Employer Assistance Program offered by the state Department of Labor & Industries meant to help employers avoid becoming delinquent on their workers’ compensation accounts.

Difficult economic times obviously can place tremendous pressure on contractors to obtain work.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the first time imposed limits on mercury emissions from existing cement plants, a move to curb a potential health hazard that the industry said will cost jobs and raise construction prices.

Despite being in the height of the construction season, the nation’s nonresidential building construction sector shed 1,800 jobs in July, according to the August 6 employment report by the Department of Labor.

Total construction spending rose 0.1% in June after the May estimate was revised sharply lower to a 1.0% decline.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury July 19 issued new interim final regulations that require health plans and issuers to cover “recommended preventive services” and eliminate cost-sharing requirements, such as a deductible, copayment or co-insurance, on those measures.

In a victory for merit shop construction and green building, the California Apprenticeship Council July 29 voted 12-5 to confirm state approval of California’s first photovoltaic installer apprenticeship program.

The Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division in July released a fact sheet explaining a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space for nursing mothers to express milk.

ABC members once again can cast their vote to prohibit government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects via a new website called YouCut. Members and interested parties can either vote online or by texting YouCut1 to 68398.

Economic activity expanded in forty-six states in the three months through June which is persistent enough to assure that a sustained recovery is underway.

It's becoming apparent that a new Highway 520 floating bridge won't solve traffic jams without a tax increase, expansion of tolls to nearby Interstate 90, or both.

Construction spending in the U.S. unexpectedly increased in June, boosted by gain in government programs that made up for declines in private residential and commercial projects.

For the 15th consecutive month, private nonresidential construction spending has fallen, slipping 0.5 percent in June, according to the August 2 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. From June 2009, private nonresidential construction spending is down 24.1 percent.

The Bertschi School broke ground in June on Washington's first building to attempt the Living Building Challenge.

Despite the nation's sluggish economy, nonresidential fixed investment jumped 17 percent in the second quarter of 2010 following a revised 7.8 percent increase in the first quarter, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's July 30 gross domestic product (GDP) report.

The Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act (S. 3628), which would adversely impact the first amendment rights of businesses and trade associations, while allowing unions to retain their influence in the political process, July 27 stalled in the Senate when it failed to get enough votes to move to the next step in the process. The vote for cloture on S. 3628 failed along party lines.

Like a mantra, officials from both the Bush and Obama administrations have trumpeted how the government’s sweeping interventions to prop up the economy since 2008 helped avert a second Depression.

Recent developments in construction labor policy will change the labor practices of construction contractors who work on federal projects. Although Congress is unlikely to enact new labor legislation anytime soon, federal agencies are changing labor policy by adopting new regulations and reinterpreting existing regulations.

The Senate approved legislation Wednesday to extend unemployment benefits for 2.5 million jobless Americans, clearing the way for House passage and President Obama's swift signature.

State budget reserves reached over 11% of annual expenditures before the recession but dropped to an estimated 2.2% at the end of FY ’10, excluding the huge oil tax based reserves in Alaska and Texas.

Pacific Fire & Secuirty in partnership with Anixer invites you to a free & informative seminar: IPVS for general and electrical contractors and designers.

Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP invites you to join them for their complimentary presentation on Document, Document, Document: Employers' FMLA Notice and Recordkeeping Requirements.

ABC and 54 of its chapters July 20 signed onto a letter expressing opposition to provisions in the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) in advance of a markup of the bill.

The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration July 8 issued an interim final rule requiring federal contractors to report first-tier contracts once they are awarded and the compensation amounts for the five top-earning executives of their first-tier subcontractor.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports that its latest Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) increased to 7 months in May – a 27 percent increase from January of this year. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.

The construction materials price index was unchanged in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after rising for eight consecutive months. That rise was 5.2% which is nearly an 8% annual pace.

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has begun a process to take closer control over the review of LEED project documentation.

The state's planned 54-foot diameter highway tunnel beneath downtown Seattle would face "unprecedented" risks as it's dug through adverse soils and high water pressure, a consultant hired by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said Thursday.

In an attempt to maintain sound control within a building, architects employ the use of various means of attenuation or vibration control. Most of these methods can be incorporated during the design phase of the building’s life. Incorporating them at this time saves valuable construction dollars.

On April 22, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a rule that requires contractors that are hired to perform renovation, repair and painting (RRP) projects in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 that disturb lead-based paint to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Following three months of increases, the price of construction materials and supplies in June fell 0.9 percent, according to the July 15 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. However, prices are up 0.8 percent for the second quarter of the year and are 4.2 percent higher from June 2009.

A provision contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will significantly increase the amount of paperwork businesses will have to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

ABC July 13 expressed opposition to provisions in the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) in advance of a hearing on the bill for which ABC supplied testimony as part of the Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Treasury June 28 issued interim final regulations for group health plans and health insurance issuers regarding pre-existing condition exclusions, lifetime and annual dollar limits on coverage, rescissions, and patient protections under provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

The federal Department of Labor announced recently that, as part of its effort to increase employer compliance with wage and hour and safety laws, it will implement administrative rules requiring submittal of written employer plans to enforcement agencies in areas of concern.

One of many lessons learned by governments the past three years is that unpaid taxes make economic downturns considerably worse. With that lesson fresh in mind, the IRS earlier this year launched a major audit initiative intended to capture delinquent taxes.

Federal Construction Consultants, author of “Principles of Federal Construction Contracting” and “Superintendents Guide to FAR Clauses” announces a valuable new FREE webinar to help you find Federal project to bid on.

Former President of CBS News Andrew Heyward wrote in the Harvard Business Review last year that “every company is a media company,” summarizing the idea that marketing is shifting to an environment where advertisers need to produce compelling content in order to succeed.

ABC July 6 responded to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that could eventually expand the agency’s Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program to include commercial and public buildings.

Nonresidential construction lost 4,300 jobs in June but was up 1,000 jobs quarterly and was down 44,900 jobs on a year-over-year basis, according to the July 2 release by the Department of Labor. Nonresidential building employment stands at 681,000 jobs.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) July 1 announced that it will be reopening 96 cases that are currently on appeal before federal courts. The announcement follows the U.S.

With temperatures across the state soaring this week, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) urges people working outdoors to take precautions against heat-related illness, a condition that can result in serious medical conditions, including disability or death.

In a future without the Alaskan Way Viaduct severing downtown Seattle from Elliott Bay, civic leaders envision a world-class waterfront with open public spaces, a tree-lined boulevard, and maybe beaches from which to launch kayaks or fly kites.

In a sign that the nation’s economic recovery continues to stumble, private nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.6 percent in May, according to the July 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is down 24.8 percent. Total nonresidential construction spending – which includes both private and public – slipped 0.1 percent from last month and 15.2 percent from May 2009, and now stands at $571.7 billion.

ABC members can cast their vote to prohibit government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects via a new website called YouCut. Members and interested parties can either vote online or by texting YouCut4 to 68398.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) June 29 released a discussion draft of the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 containing language that would greatly increase penalties on employers for safety violations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor and Department of Treasury June 17 issued an interim final rule for group health plans and health insurance coverage relating to their status as “grandfathered health plans” under provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA.

King County's $1.8-billion Brightwater sewer plant project has landed in court and gotten more complicated as construction progresses.

Currently, several hundred billion dollars of additional spending for public programs is stalled in Congress. This includes more funds for extended unemployment insurance, K-12 education, highway and transit projects, general purpose subsidies for state governments and mortgage subsidies.

Architects and engineers use various methods when attempting to control sound in the environments they are designing. The basic theory behind most products used to control sound is to absorb or control vibration.

Mayor Mike McGinn wants the City Council to join him in agreeing that the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel replacement won't proceed unless the state removes a requirement that the city pay for cost overruns.

According to RSMeans, U.S. construction costs have either been falling or flat for the past year-and-a-half. On a quarter-to-quarter basis, the declines were most pronounced in April of last year.

To study the air that workers in auto repair shops breathe, analysts with the SHARP Program, the research group at the Department of Labor & Industries, bought a hunting vest and stuffed it with measuring devices, including several filters and three different air pumps.

China’s weekend move to again permit its currency to resume a managed appreciation against the $US is clearly positive for world economic growth and hence construction demand.

ABC June 14 filed comments with the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council opposing a proposed rule implementing Executive Order 13494, “Economy in Government Contracting.”

The U.S. Supreme Court June 17 ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was not authorized to issue decisions during a 27-month period when three of its five seats were vacant, invalidating more than 500 decisions.

While many in Seattle worry about costs and risks of attempting the world's widest bored tunnel beneath downtown, industry legend Martin Herrenknecht can hardly contain his desire to drill.

As part of an effort to tighten up on companies that misclassify employees as independent contractors, the U.S. Dept. of Labor is considering proposing a rule that would set additional record-keeping and notification requirements for employers concerning their workers' status.

The surge in construction materials prices continued in May with the price index up 0.7% from April. Plywood prices jumped 6.1% to 27.9% higher than three months ago. Softwood lumber prices rose 3.8% to 11.1% above February.

The Highway 520 floating bridge on Lake Washington is nearing retirement, but the state is fighting waves and winds to the bitter end.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is being touted as the future of the design/build process, however with a steep learning curve and a heavy investment of time and money, the initial steps toward adoption can be very daunting. While giant leaps forward are being made within the BIM arena, because of the many challenges posed by adoption in addition to the daily juggling of client deadlines, firms with limited resources have been tentative to dive head first into BIM.

ABC June 15 opposed the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act (H.R. 5175) because it would adversely impact the first amendment rights of businesses and trade associations, while allowing unions to retain their influence in the political process.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) June 13 launched an updated version of the E-Verify online employment verification system website.

For the seventh month in a row, the price of construction materials and supplies increased in May, rising 0.7 percent, according to the June 16 producer price index report by the U.S. Labor Department. Prices are 5.9 percent higher from May 2009.

Lean construction is by no means a new philosophy. With roots in the manufacturing industry and years of staying power in the construction industry, lean is an approach to project delivery through a set of strategies and techniques designed to help cut down on waste.

Like the Dreamliner, Boeing’s new long-range mid-sized aircraft, Seattle’s economy seems to be spending more time on the runway than in the air.

Sound Transit is trying to extend its light-rail line 1.6 miles south into the city of SeaTac by 2016 -- four to six years earlier than the current plan.

Electrical safety has always been an important topic for EHS managers. Traditional approaches include Lockout Tagout, wearing appropriate PPE, and proper labeling and warnings. Arc flash is a very important part of electrical safety that has gained increased prominence with recent advances in our understanding of the phenomenon.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday killed legislation that would have stripped the Environmental Protection Agency's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from large factories, electric power companies and automobiles.

ABC’s San Diego Chapter June 8 achieved a major victory for free enterprise and the merit shop construction industry when the California cities of Chula Vista and Oceanside became the first in the country to have their voters approve ordinances prohibiting the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on construction projects.

A Department of Labor (DOL) final rule updating child labor protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will go into effect July 19.

ABC congratulates four of its members for receiving the Small Business Administration’s State Small Business Person of the Year award for each of their individual states.

The Washington State Dept. of Transportation is creating a list of best construction practices for floating bridges, based on results of tests conducted on a pontoon built at one-sixth the typical size. The best practices will be used by the design-build team that won the contract to build new pontoons for the state Route 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. At 2,285 meters, SR 520's bridge is the longest of its kind in the world.

In this Consumer Update video, FDA Dermatologist Jane Liedtka, M.D., and FDA Opthamologist Wiley Chambers, M.D., provide tips on protecting yourself from harmful exposure to the sun’s UV rays—including avoiding exposure, applying sunscreens, and wearing proper eye protection.

With the unresolved question as to whether Seattle would pay if the state hit cost overruns with the deep-bore tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the city has has hired three consultants to evaluate potential risks in the state's tunnel plan.

OSHA has scheduled a first-ever virtual stakeholder meeting June 28, 2010, to seek input about combustible dust workplace hazards. This virtual meeting format provides quick and easy access to a broader audience such as small businesses who would otherwise not be able to participate.

Employment in the nation’s nonresidential construction industry fell by 4,200 jobs in May after an across-the-board jobs gain the previous month, according to June 4 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. Since May 2009, the nonresidential building construction sector has lost 55,400 jobs, or 7.5 percent, and the employment stands at 684,300.

ABC’s quarterly Regulatory Alert provides you with what you need to know about the ever-changing landscape of federally mandated rules, regulations and enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Labor and others.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) final rule requiring employers to notify workers of all hexavalent chromium exposure findings regardless of whether the finding is above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) is scheduled to go into effect June 15.

For the first time since March 2009, private nonresidential construction spending increased 1.7 percent in April, according to the June 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, on a year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is down 24.6 percent.

The practice of retrofitting buildings with simple, environmentally friendly technology like more-efficient boilers and better-quality windows has been around for years, but there is little research on how much energy these changes actually save — and by extension, how much money they can save landlords and lenders.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) May 17 formally recognized the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Crane Operator Certification Program during a signing ceremony attended by construction industry leaders, including ABC president and CEO Kirk Pickerel.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has updated its online tools to help small businesses take advantage of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which was included in the health care reform bill, and the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, signed into law March 18 by President Obama.

Neil discusses 5 green retrofits in particular which he says electricians should be promoting to stimulate business and help save consumer cash in the long haul.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the first quarter of 2010 showing a 4.5 percent increase in construction backlog orders to 6.07 months, up from 5.81 months in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The recession is not over in the public sector of the economy although the recovery began nearly a year ago in the private sector.

April construction starts slipped 3% from the previous month after March starts were revised up nearly 7%. The preliminary April total includes residential starts estimated as the average of the latest three months pending hard data from the Census Bureau.

New claims for jobless benefits soared last week, a worrisome sign for the slowly recovering labor market.

The surge in construction materials prices continued in April with the price index up 1.1% from March. Plywood prices jumped 15.5% to the highest level since 2005. Softwood lumber prices rose 4.5% to a three year high level.

The price of construction materials and supplies rose 1.1 percent in April, according to the May 18 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. This marks the sixth straight monthly increase.

It’s been awhile since I’ve written about some of the big picture stuff and my inspiration to do so comes from Tom McKeag’s immensely thought-provoking piece, “Giving Green Buildings a Smarter Skin.” Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/05/18/building-intelligence-greener-buildings#ixzz0obOr86GN

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) May 11 announced a new pilot program that will train building inspectors in 11 major cities across the country to look for safety violations on construction jobsites.

he Department of Labor (DOL) April 26 released its regulatory agenda, including agendas for the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), both of which have plans to issue final rules on President Obama executive orders.

The Environmental Protection Agency April 23 announced efforts to expand its Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program, just one day after the program took effect.

Concrete is one of the most adaptable and versatile materials used in the construction industry and is one of the most widely used materials in construction projects.

Company executives, project managers and safety directors could face up to 20 years in prison for work site accidents if a federal bill becomes law.

On average, 79 young workers are injured every working day in Washington state – or, about three every hour.

Payrolls in the U.S. surged by the most in four years in April, led by gains in private employment that indicate the economy is weaning itself from government support.

In a sure sign that the construction season is underway, the nonresidential construction industry gained 9,200 jobs in April, according to the May 7 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. In the past two months, nonresidential construction employment has grown by 21,500 jobs.

The IRS has released the average premium for the small group market in each state for the 2010 tax year for purposes of computing the Code Sec. 45R tax credit for eligible small employers that make nonelective contributions toward their employee’s health insurance premiums. The premiums must be made under an arrangement that requires the employer to pay at least 50 percent of each participating employee’s premiums for coverage provided by a qualified health plan.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released the follow statement on the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019) being voted on today in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fifteen months into the federal Recovery Act, more than half of the law's $787 billion in funding has been appropriated to the states, making this is an ideal time to try and follow the money.

ABC April 29 expressed concern over the creation of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) that is included in the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217). The CFPB would add a new layer of federal bureaucracy to small business lending by establishing additional paperwork and record-keeping requirements.

The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) May 5 held a hearing titled, “Avoiding Another Lost Decade: How to Promote Job Creation.” Prior to the hearing, ABC sent a letter to members of the JEC expressing concern over the 25 percent unemployment rate in the construction industry and expressing a need for immediate action.

Private payrolls grew in April, while layoff announcements fell to a nearly four-year low.

Accompanying this report are tables and charts based on RSMeans’ measures of dollar-per-square-foot construction costs. The results for 25 major cities are shown for four college building types of structure.

Increases in public sector construction spending, driven by stimulus funds, helped boost total U.S. construction activity by almost $2 billion between February and March.

In a good news/bad news report, private nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.7 percent in March, according to the May 3 release by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is down 25.5 percent.

Nonresidential fixed investment grew 4.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis in the first quarter of 2010 following revised 5.3 percent growth in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the U.S Commerce Department's April 30 gross domestic product (GDP) report.

In a series of letters released between March 29 and April 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued interpretations of rules regulating scaffolding and personal fall protection.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis April 22 announced a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiative that will focus enforcement efforts on repeat offenders and increase civil penalty amounts for violations.

Economic activity expanded in twenty-seven states in the three months through March January which is persistent enough to assure that a sustained recovery is underway. The economic activity index increased in forty-one state in March from February with the declines in the nine remaining states very marginal.

Construction materials prices appear to be entering another period of double digit inflation similar to what occurred in 2004 and again in 2008. The Bureau of Labor Statistics price index jumped 1.3% in March and is rising at a 10% plus pace for the first three months of 2010.

The value of construction starts was up 11.5% in the first quarter of 2010 from the same quarter last year. But this does not signal that a sustained rising trend is underway. March starts were only 0.7% higher than February.

The $119.9-million Nalley Valley project is designed to fix a pickle of a traffic bottleneck where Interstate 5 meets State Route 16 in South Tacoma.

The Civilian Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council April 14 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to prohibit federal contractors from being reimbursed for activities involving educating employees about joining a union.

Prices for construction materials and supplies shot up for the fifth straight month, increasing 1.3 percent in March, according to April 22 producer price index (PPI) report by the U.S. Labor Department. Over the first quarter of 2010, construction materials prices increased by 2.6 percent. On a year-over-year basis, construction materials prices are up 4.8 percent.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia April 16 upheld a final rule that allows employers to be held liable on a per-employee basis for failing to provide the proper personal protective equipment and training to workers.

Construction hiring rose in more than half of the country in March, according to the latest state employment figures from the Bureau of Labor statistics.

Just hours after Congress passed an $18 billion bill to restore unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, President Barack Obama made it the law of the land.

Construction employment in Washington has dropped 18.4 percent over the past year, the fourth-worst decline in the nation, according to a report released Friday by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Crews have filled in about 80% of nine voids leftover from a 2-mile tunneling job through Seattle’s Beacon Hill. Japan’s Obayashi Corp. did not discover the voids while boring the parallel, 1-mile tunnels as part of its $280-million contract, which has since increased to $312 million. Owner Sound Transit contends the contractor is at fault.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering online tools to help small businesses take advantage of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which was included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and signed into law March 23 by President Obama.

The Federal Acquisitions and Regulation (FAR) council April 13 published a final rule implementing President Obama’s February 2009 Executive Order 13502 encouraging federal agencies to impose anti-competitive and costly project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects.

The next phase of U.S. regulations aimed at cleaning up airborne emissions from off-road diesel engines will start taking effect in just nine months. The rule, called Tier 4, will all but eliminate the amount of diesel particulate matter (soot) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that new construction equipment will put into the atmosphere.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2010 National Chairman Jim Elmer, president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash., today issued the following statement in reaction to the final rule, to be issued April 13 by the Obama administration, that would establish a policy of encouraging federal agencies to impose government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects exceeding $25 million:

No final plan or timetable has yet been announced. New contracting rules will include all federal contracts not jut construction. So there are likely to be enough objections to delay implementation for quite a few months.

Construction materials shipments increased 0.4% in the three months through February Since production fell 0.8% over the same period, orders were met by reducing inventory. The inventory/sales ratio fell from 1.52 to 1.34 over the last year.

ABC March 30 objected to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rule that would revise the OSHA Form 300 to include an additional reporting column for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The proposed rule would amend OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, although OSHA claims it would not require employers to implement any new controls in the workplace.

ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance April 6 launched a national campaign, Halt the Assault, which is dedicated to championing the interests of small business owners and to ending government intrusion into the free market economy.

To find ABC's health care reform timetable for implementation.

The Labor Department is encouraging low-wage and immigrant workers to turn in employers who are shortchanging their pay, as part of an expanding effort to enforce wage and hour rules.

The nonresidential construction sector in March saw its first monthly increase in employment since 2008, gaining 9,400 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the April 2 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department.

For months, few concrete details have emerged about the Obama administration's controversial, but as yet unannounced High Road contracting policy, which would allow agencies to favor labor-friendly firms when evaluating bid proposals.

Private nonresidential construction spending declined 0.4 percent in February and is down 24.3 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the April 1 spending report produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. Total nonresidential construction spending also slipped 1 percent for the month and is 16.2 percent lower year over year.

Builders cut back on new projects in February and drove down construction spending to $846 billion, a low last recorded in November 2002. Building industry economists say this is a fresh sign that the troubled real-estate market remains a sore spot for the economic recovery.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) April 22 will begin enforcing a rule which requires all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb more than six feet of lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead poisoning.

Large contractors are putting a new standard for productivity measurement to the test in the hope of producing better project process controls. The new standard, which was adopted last fall as ASTM E2691, focuses on methods for continuously measuring productivity losses to allow for corrective actions during a project.

Accompanying this report are tables and charts based on RSMeans’ measures of dollar-per-square-foot construction costs. The results for 25 major cities are shown for four institutional building types.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed into law an updated $8.5 billion state transportation budget that lawmakers say will bankroll thousands of construction jobs.

A component of the “Green” movement is deconstruction. Rather than demolishing a structure and delivering the debris to landfill, deconstruction provides for the careful removal and reuse or recycling of building materials.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2010 National Chairman Jim Elmer, president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash., today issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s March 27 recess appointment of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

After years of delay and debate, Seattle will soon see the most visible signs of a replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

While a requirement in the new health care reform law for employers to provide health insurance won’t apply to most contractors, the largest companies will have to provide insurance for their employees. And they’ll be bidding on some projects against companies who don’t have to.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) sharply declined by 9 percent between November 2009 and January 2010. CBI has slipped 16.3 percent during the last year and currently stands at 5.5 months, the lowest point reported in the 15 months ABC has gathered data. CBI is a forward-looking indicator that measures the amount of construction work under contract to be completed in the future.

If you are bidding jobs with apprenticeship utilization requirements on them, or if you just want to learn more about apprenticeship in general, attend the Pacific NW Apprenticeship Education Conference, May 19-20 at the Tacoma Convention & Trade Center.

The U.S. House of Representatives March 25 passed the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 – also known as the reconciliation package – which makes changes to the Affordable Health Care for America Act signed into law March 23 by President Barack Obama.

The final rule to implement President Obama’s executive order on project labor agreements (PLAs) into federal procurement regulations was sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) March 16 for final review. OMB has up to 90 days, with a possible extension, to review the final rule before it is published becomes a formal rule, however a final or an interim final rule could be issued at any time.

The Blue Book GC Showcase is a free networking event designed to bring together subcontractors and suppliers with the companies that need their services. In addition to bridging the gap between buyers and sellers, the showcase will feature educational sessions on topics such as: Free tools you may not be aware of but shouldn’t work without; How to submit a better bid; and Bonding/Contract Rights/Lien Rights.

A FREE ½ day class covering key aspects of Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage compliance requirement for contractors employed on Federal construction projects. Also, the State of Washington, Department of Labor and Industries will cover key aspects of State prevailing wage compliance requirements.

The cost of construction materials and supplies edged up slightly by 0.1 percent in February, according to March 17 producer price index (PPI) report by U.S. Department of Labor. On a year-over-year basis, prices of construction materials are up 2.8 percent.

What's the likelihood that Seattle's ambitious Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel will finish on time and on budget?

The Washington State Dept. of Transportation has qualified four design-build teams that will vie for a $1-billion contract to construct a deep-bore tunnel replacing the seismically unsound Alaskan Way viaduct in Seattle.

The International Code Council (ICC), ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) have announced the launch of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), representing the merger of two national efforts to develop adoptable and enforceable green building codes.

Support for green construction and LEED certification dipped slightly in 2009 but remains strong across the past three years despite the recession, according to the latest green building survey.

Overall construction unemployment hit 27.1 percent in February, according to a report released March 5 by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, prompting ABC the same day to call on Congress and the administration to act immediately to free up lending, increase access to capital and decrease the tax burden on the construction industry in order to create jobs.

ABC March 4 voiced strong support for safety programs that encourage cooperation between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and employers.

John Poole, in his Constructonomics Blog, posts some insightful observations of the challenges of starting work as a general contractor in this brutal economy.

The nation’s nonresidential building construction sector lost 9,600 jobs in February, according to the March 5 employment report by the U.S. Labor Department. Since February 2009, the sector has shed 101,700 jobs, or 13.3 percent. Employment in nonresidential building construction now stands at 661,600.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2010 National Chairman Jim Elmer, president of James W. Elmer Construction, Spokane, Wash., today issued the following statement on the latest construction industry employment data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Modular Building Institute (MBI) today announced the formation of an alliance, Start Today and Rebuild Together (START), to leverage the resources of the construction industry, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies to respond quickly and efficiently with relief and rebuilding efforts following natural disasters.

Stimulus projects were hindered by Davis-Bacon Act and Buy American provisions according to a Feb. 18 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

According to the White House Middle-Class Task Force’s Feb. 26 annual report, the Obama administration is crafting a Responsible Federal Contracting Policy, also referred to as the High Road Contracting Policy, which will reshape the $500 billion federal contracting market.

The New Year started on a down note for private nonresidential construction as spending fell 2.1 percent in January, according to the March 1 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction was 19.9 percent lower. Total nonresidential construction spending slipped 1.4 percent in January and was down 10.6 percent from the same time last year. Nonresidential construction spending totaled $615 billion on a seasonally adjusted annual rate in January.

Hanging more than 200 ft over a jobsite in downtown Kansas City, Mo., James Hague doesn’t seem to notice the tiny people and equipment below his feet.

Construction materials price inflation jumped to a 1.3% monthly increase in January due to an 11.5% surge in diesel prices and continuing rapid rises in metal and metal product prices. However, diesel prices have declined $0.12/gal. since the January survey week so a smaller overall rise in the price index is likely in February.

The U.S. Senate Feb. 24 voted 70-28 to pass a $15 billion jobs bill that includes a one-year holiday from the Social Security payroll tax for hiring workers that have been unemployed for at least 60 days.

March 18th the day of networking and procurement training opportunities.

This course provides a complete overview of the brownfields process, from introduction to brownfields to redevelopment. Participants will become versed in funding the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment, and other intricacies involved in managing a Federal grant.

he U.S. Green Building Council released its Top 10 lists of green building legislation in the House and Senate today and honored Rep. Ben Chandler and Sen. Olympia Snowe for supporting energy efficiency and sustainable design in the buildings.

The value of construction starts increased 4% in January after a weak December in spite of continuing unseasonably poor construction weather. Starts were 25% higher than in the previous January.

Reed Construction Data (RCD) announced today that the value of construction starts in January 2010, excluding residential contracts, totaled $24.1 billion, 20.1% more than in January 2009.

Congress and the President put a new law into effect on January 22, allowing taxpayers who make contributions to charities providing relief in Haiti for earthquake victims to deduct those on their 2009 tax return if they are made before March 1.

Please join us for an informational session to learn about the benefits of apprenticeships offered through CITC.

Allwest Underground, Inc is pleased to announce the opening of its new facility at 799 Valentine Ave SE in Pacific, Washington. The new location features a 6,000 square foot shop and a two acre yard with “drive thru” loading and unloading capability to better service a huge inventory of trench shoring equipment, steel road plates, pipe plus, and confined space safety equipment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) April 22 will begin requiring all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

By Robert Pear Early versions of the Senate’s far-reaching health care bill said that small businesses with fewer than 50 workers would not be penalized if they failed to provide insurance. That was before labor unions in the construction industry went to work and persuaded Senate leaders to insert five paragraphs.