Holcim AG aims to reduce cement, aggregates and ready mixed concrete operations’ respective water intensities by 33 percent, 20 percent and 15 percent through 2030. Applicable to namesake, Lafarge, Aggregate Industries, Lattimore Materials and other North America or overseas brands, the targets are part of a global strategy to become nature-positive by restoring and preserving water and biodiversity, while…
Read MoreDay: October 14, 2021
Equipment forecast paints stable picture for construction
Federal fiscal stimulus has played a pivotal role in helping the U.S. economy recover from 2020 jolts, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Over the next couple of years, the Milwaukee group and economic consultants see additional proposals ushering much potential for the construction industry. “We’ve included the American Jobs Plan (AJP) in our forecast,” says Mark Killion, director…
Read MoreOSHA short lists workplace heat exposure guidance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is initiating enhanced measures to protect workers better in hot environments and reduce the dangers of exposure to ambient heat. While heat illness is largely preventable and incidents widely under reported, thousands of workers are sickened each year by workplace heat exposure, agency officials contend. In 2019, they add, 43 workers died from heat…
Read MoreLabor Department promotes registered apprenticeships
The U.S. Department of Labor will mark 2021 National Apprenticeship Week November 15-21. The event allows labor and business leaders, educational institutions, career seekers and other partners to demonstrate support for apprenticeships in preparing a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the talent needs of employers and train Americans for good-paying jobs across multiple industries. “Registered apprenticeships provide a path…
Read MoreCoalition combats industrial heat stress on eight workplace fronts
New National Heat Safety Coalition (NHSC) recommendations span eight areas that participants cite as key to keeping workers in industrial environments safe: heat hygiene and acclimatization; hydration; environmental monitoring; physiological monitoring; body cooling; textiles and personal protective equipment; plus, emergency action plans and implementation.
Read MoreInternational Code Council launches “Code on a Mission” challenge
The International Code Council, a leading global source of model codes or standards and building safety solutions, presents its “Code on a Mission” challenge with an eye to having over a third of the U.S. population covered by the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by the end of 2023. To make this a reality, ICC encourages the building industry…
Read MoreCommerce sets block producer referendum through mid-November
A Department of Commerce-administered referendum, October 15-November 15, will enable registered concrete masonry unit producers to vote to approve formation of a Concrete Masonry Products Board, authorized to fund a CMU Checkoff through a 1-cent assessment per 8-in. equivalent building block sold in the United States. Commerce staff were to email ballots to producers who had registered by the day…
Read MoreTaking the Pork Out of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
H.R.3684, all 1,372 pages using size 12 Robo font, is a whopper. Every dollar sign is followed by at least six zeros, and it’s pretty much hopeless to sum up the total to be spent. A billion spent here and a billion spent there, and pretty soon you have some real money! As of press time, the bill has yet…
Read MoreNRMCA joins global effort targeting net-zero carbon emissions
Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and Build With Strength initiative have aligned with a global consortium of concrete and cement trade associations or organizations committing to a net-zero carbon dioxide emissions industry by 2050. Their action dovetails release of Global Cement and Concrete Association’s (GCCA) 2050 Cement & Concrete…
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