The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) December 12 released the Spanish version of their ladder safety smartphone app which is designed to improve the safety of extension ladders by using visual and audio signals to make it easier for workers to check the angle of the ladder and offers useful tips for using extension ladders safely. When a user’s phone is set to Spanish language, the Spanish version of the app will install when downloaded.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) commended a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California seeking declarative and injunctive relief against an unnecessary and discriminatory new statute (S.B. 54) recently enacted in the California Legislature. SB 54 is special interest legislation that would force private refineries in California to award construction and maintenance work predominately to contractors who sign contracts with Building Trades unions.  

With 2014 just around the corner, ABC is providing an overview of several new provisions included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that are scheduled to become effective in the new year. Additional information about PPACA, including reference guides and webinars, may be found in ABC’s health care employer toolkit.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has added Metro Washington Chapter member Jim Anglemyer of WCS Construction, LLC, Washington, D.C., to the Beam Club Presidential Level, which recognizes ABC’s top membership recruiters.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) are soliciting comments from the construction community about the potential use of a government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on federal construction projects in six states including North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, Kentucky and Texas.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Dec. 9 agreed to dismiss its appeal of a court ruling invalidating its controversial “ambush” election rule, which would have drastically reduced the amount of time between when a union files a representation petition and an election takes place.

In August 2013, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued an affirmative action rule related to hiring disabled workers. In November, ABC filed an injunction against the rule. Below are a set of frequently asked questions on both OFCCP’s rule and ABC’s challenge to that rule.

ABC members have the chance to win $10,000 when they apply for the FedEx Advantage discount program. Through ABC’s business partner program, members can energize their business and get the opportunity to win dozens of prizes. 

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Nov. 27 regulatory agenda includes items related to the Clean Water Act, lead paint programs and post-construction stormwater and stormwater ELG, among other items.

ABC Nov. 27 praised the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for upholding Michigan’s 2011 law that prohibits government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on construction projects paid for by Michigan taxpayers.