The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) final rule on non-hobbyist small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS or drones) took effect on Monday, Aug. 29. The final rule applies to commercial drones weighing less than 55 pounds and defines specific regulations for operation and pilot certification. For a summary of the rule’s operational limitations, see this detailed article from Newsline.

On Aug. 29, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released  its final Enforcement Guidance on Retaliation and Related Issues .  The new guidance replaces the EEOC’s 1998 Compliance Manual Section 8: Retaliation.

In the wake of the Aug. 24 issuance of the final rule  on “blacklisting,” ABC is quickly deploying resources to help members comply with new requirements while pursuing legislative efforts and, potentially, litigation to protect contractors and taxpayers from the policy.

For more than two weeks in August, a team of carpenters, plumbers and electrical workers descended upon local Vietnam veteran Robert Gentle’s home, performing renovations free of charge to help him move around more freely — and to thank him for his service.

After days of torrential rain and flooding, President Obama declared a major disaster in Louisiana. Residents are facing a prolonged cleanup effort after widespread flooding killed at least 11 people and left an estimated 11,000 homeless or temporarily displaced. ABC's New Orleans/Bayou Chapter is working with local organizations to aid flood victims. Monetary donations to support their efforts can be made to the ABC disaster relief fund with the Red Cross.

Technology-rich equipment, tools, drones, robots and vehicles are revolutionizing how America’s commercial and industrial construction projects are built, according to the July/August issue of Construction Executive magazine. Improved safety, productivity gains and expedited schedules are driving industry-wide investment in technology acquisitions and upgrades among contrac

ABC slammed the flawed Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces final rule, commonly referred to as “blacklisting,” released by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council. The rule, which was accompanied by a guidance document from the U.S. Department of Labor and a White House amendment to Executive Order 13673, will increase costs for taxpayers, threaten the livelihood of millions of Americans who work for responsible federal contractors and cripple the federal procurement process with needless uncertainty, delays and

Earlier this month, prolonged rainfall in southern parts of Louisiana resulted in catastrophic flooding that submerged thousands of houses and businesses, including ABC Pelican Chapter. Located in hard-hit Baton Rouge, the chapter had two to three feet of water in its administrative building and training center, and more than half of the staff have lost their homes.

On Aug. 12, ABC submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) expressing concerns about the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) proposed revision to the Employer Information Report (EEO-1), which would require employers with 100 or more employees to provide data on W-2 pay and hours worked, beginning in 2018. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB is responsible for reviewing and approving the revised EEO-1 report. 

A recent interpretation letter by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has refined the definition of a recordable injury under 29 CFR Part 1904 – Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. According to the interpretation, an employee’s self-treatment of wrist pain with a rigid brace qualifies as a reportable injury even if a physician later determines that the brace is acceptable yet unnecessary treatment.