Associated Builders and Contractors – Page 5

Atlantic Precast a model plaintiff in suit challenging OSHA rule’s anti-retaliation provisions

July 11, 2016 Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Atlantic Precast Concrete Inc. and two other construction-tied employers are central to a lawsuit seeking an injunction on a portion of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “Improve Tracking Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” rule, effective August 10. The Tullytown, Pa.-based drainage products operator and seven co-plaintiffs request that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas declare the rule’s anti-retaliation provisions—detailed in Section 1904.35(b)(1)—as unlawful to the extent they “prohibit or otherwise limit incident-based employer safety incentive programs and/or routine mandatory post-accident drug testing programs.”

Report proves safety best practices depress recordable incident rates

June 21, 2016 Concrete News

The Associated Builders and Contractors 2016 Safety Performance Report — Understanding the Impact of Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Participation documents proactive practices’ potential to reduce recordable incidents up to 86 percent, making the best-performing builders and contractors 700-plus percent safer than the industry average. Six leading indicators have the most dramatic impact: substance abuse program; new hire and site-specific safety orientations; toolbox talks; near-miss/near-hit analyses; and, site safety committee.

ABC report: Safety best practices crater contractor recordable incident rates

May 10, 2016 Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

The ABC 2016 Safety Performance Report — Understanding the Impact of Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Participation documents proactive practices’ potential to reduce recordable incidents up to 86 percent, making the best-performing builders and contractors 700-plus percent safer than the industry average. Six leading indicators have the most dramatic impact: substance abuse program; new hire and site-specific safety orientations; toolbox talks; near-miss/near-hit analysis; and, site safety committee.

ABC quantifies states’ fidelity to merit shop principles

January 28, 2016 Concrete News

Associated Builders and Contractors’ new “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard” reviews and grades state-specific information significant to the success of commercial and industrial construction stakeholders. The meritshopscorecard.org site identifies states that have created an environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned plus those where strategic improvements need to be made in order to create a friendly business climate.

Nonresidential contractors underscore market optimism

November 5, 2014 Concrete News

The Associated Builders and Contractors most recent Construction Confidence Index (CCI), reflecting nonresidential construction industry prospects using survey projections in revenue, profit margin and hiring categories, increased across all indices during the first six months of 2014.

Nonresidential construction confidence index soars

October 7, 2014 Concrete News

Source: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington

The ABC Construction Confidence Index (CCI), which reflects nonresidential construction industry prospects using three measured categories—revenues, profit margins and hiring—increased across all indices during the first six months of 2014.

Economists bullish on commercial and industrial work

September 18, 2014 Concrete News

DBIA officials cite the inherent value design-build methods bring to projects across the construction sectors, including transportation. The Institute honored the Yadkin River Bridge—a 2,900-ft., twin structure along the Interstate 85, Charlotte–Greensboro, N.C., corridor—with a 2014 National Award of Merit. Flatiron Construction Corp. led the design-build team credited with delivering the North Carolina Department of Transportation project under its $136 million budget.

“A combination of low interest rates; wealth effects stemming from a booming stock market and rising home prices; surging energy production; and expanding industrial output has helped position the U.S. economy for more rapid growth during the next several quarters,” says Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This will lead to more robust recovery in the U.S. nonresidential construction industry, which has also been aided by stable materials prices and improving commercial real estate fundamentals.”

Construction economists bullish on commercial, industrial market

August 5, 2014 Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.

“A combination of low interest rates; wealth effects stemming from a booming stock market and rising home prices; surging energy production; and expanding industrial output has helped position the U.S. economy for more rapid growth during the next several quarters,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This will lead to more robust recovery in the U.S. nonresidential construction industry, which has also been aided by stable materials prices and improving commercial real estate fundamentals.”

Romney’s labor policy positions ‘merit’ Associated Builders nod

February 27, 2012 Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

In perhaps the first such move this campaign season by a major national construction group, ABC has endorsed Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.