Author: Nazia Shah
The U.S. Department of Labor, on July 24, announced several programs designed to help employers, unions, and pension plans voluntarily assess and improve their compliance with federal labor laws. The self-audit programs, which include new and updated offerings, aim to enhance worker protections while reducing the likelihood of formal investigation or litigation. “Self-audits are one of the most effective ways to build a culture of compliance and trust,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “These programs are designed to give employers, unions, and benefit plan officials the tools they need to correct potential violations proactively. By empowering the regulated…
The Safe + Sound campaign is a year-round initiative aimed at helping you ensure that your business excels in health and safety. The campaign encourages every workplace to create a culture of safety through three core elements: management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards. Prioritizing safety and health programs protects your workers from injuries, illnesses, and fatalities AND reduces costs, increases productivity, and improves overall business operations. If you aren’t sure where to begin, Safe + Sound is here to support you. The campaign provides educational opportunities, resources, and activities to help you strengthen…
Following a recent series of trench collapses in the Midwest, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging workplaces to take the necessary steps to safeguard workers from well-known industry hazards that can be prevented when the required protections are used. Soil can be heavy – one cubic yard can weigh as much as a car – so it is important to know and test the type of soil at every worksite before work begins. Large amounts of rain can impact soil and significantly increase the weight, causing it to become more hazardous and likelier to collapse. Never…
Celebrating 40 Years of Safety Excellence in Construction AGC of America, WTW | Willis, and STARR are proud to continue our longstanding partnership dedicated to advancing safety in the construction industry. The Legacy Forty years ago, this collaboration launched the prestigious Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) – now the most respected safety recognition in North America. The Impact For the past 12 years, the innovative strategies and real-world solutions presented by CSEA finalists at the AGC Annual Convention have been captured in the Construction Safety Management Best Practices Playbook – a resource now used by contractors worldwide. Now Available: 2025…
The AGC Summer 2025 Construction Safety & Health Conference delivered a dynamic mix of executive insight, hands‑on learning, and career‑centered growth. With timely sessions on regulatory updates, ergonomics, fatigue mitigation, and safety culture transformation – plus unique highlights like the “Lessons from Millie” lunch talk – it offered valuable takeaways for safety professionals at every stage of their journey. Attendees left equipped not only with new technical knowledge but also refreshed enthusiasm and actionable strategies to elevate safety across their organizations. Save the dates for AGC’s 2026 Safety & Health Conferences: For more information, contact Nazia Shah.
On July 14, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Field Operations Manual in an effort to minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement. The new policy, outlined in the Penalties and Debt Collection section of OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, increases penalty reductions for small employers, making it easier for small businesses to invest resources in compliance and hazard abatement. For example, a penalty reduction level of 70%, which was previously only applicable for businesses with 10 or fewer employees, will now be expanded to…
AGC’s Summer 2025 Construction Safety & Health Conference is almost here! Join us to stay up to date on all the key regulatory, legislative, and policy issues impacting construction and their implications for EHS professionals. Check out our full agenda to see our can’t miss schedule of sessions, including: Learn More and Register
The next AGC Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum is scheduled for July 16, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Eastern Time. The forum will focus on strategies and initiatives to support veterans’ mental health in construction. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER. The AGC Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum meets virtually, on a quarterly basis, with the goal of providing a safe space where construction industry stakeholders can gather to share success stories, challenges, and seek/share resources and best practices. For more information, please contact Nazia Shah.
AGC of America is now accepting speaking proposals for the 2026 Construction Safety & Health Conferences taking place January 21-23, 2026, in Glendale, AZ and July 22-24, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN. These events are designed for emerging to senior-level management professionals who work in any of the commercial construction markets. All educational sessions should be targeted towards these attendees and should involve topics that reflect current and emerging issues in construction safety and health. We invite you to share your knowledge and help us shape the 2026 experience. For more information and to submit a proposal, please refer to our event guidelines. Proposals should…
AGC of America recently urged the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to report favorably to the full Senate the nomination of David Keeling to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The HELP Committee voted to approve Mr. Keeling’s nomination on June 26. His nomination will now move to the Senate floor for a final vote at a later date. Mr. Keeling has a strong background in leading the safety and health efforts at some of the largest employers in the…