Author: agcnews

AGC of America released the fourth video in its series of mental health videos recently for member firms to share with all employees. The video features Shayne Dinkle, a Seattle-area safety manager for iron workers, who lost a son to suicide. The pain and anger from that incident brought him close to taking his own life. But the support and compassion he received from his co-workers helped him overcome. The message from the video is clear, it is okay to share your pain, ask for help and offer it to co-workers who are suffering. The video is part of a broader AGC…

On May 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) launched its Mental Health at Work initiative, which leverages DOL’s expertise, programs, policies, partnerships, and authority to advance mental health and wellness in the workforce. This initiative will advance wellness in the workforce by reducing stigma and increasing awareness of mental health and wellbeing within workplaces; promoting best practices and compliance by employers; and promoting mental health equity and access, especially for marginalized and vulnerable populations. Employers play the most critical role in creating environments where workers are as comfortable seeking support for treating mental health conditions as they are with…

Construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. On this episode, we speak with the co-chairs of AGC’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Task Force – Mandi Kime of AGC of Washington and Brandon Anderson of AGC of Missouri – on how they are leading the fight for an industry in crisis. They share why they are so passionate and how they are working to combat construction’s leading mental health difficulties and the stigma that accompanies them.  

Builders assess their risk and set their prices accordingly. Don Gregory, legal counsel for subcontractors and other industry practitioners for more than 40 years, recommends that Subcontractors condition their bids on an unmodified ConsensusDocs subcontract. This was one of the nuggets from a recent Strafford webinar on which three seasoned construction attorneys presented on Understanding ConsensusDocs Construction Contracts: What Lawyers Need to Know. Each presenter focused on one perspective: the owner’s (David Scotti), the general contractor’s (Phil Beck), and the subcontractor’s (Don Gregory). Their conclusions on which documents and provisions to focus upon differed. But each concluded that ConsensusDocs is an extremely helpful tool…

The price of materials and services used in nonresidential construction increased 0.5 percent from March to April, while an index that measures contractors’ bid prices declined 0.3 percent, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said the new data indicates contractors are getting squeezed by rising materials prices at a time when what they charge to build projects is declining. “Prices remain volatile for many key construction materials, making it difficult for contractors to bid projects that may take years to complete,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Even some…

For #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we were able to talk to Mandi Kime, and Brandon Anderson, the two co-chairs of Associated General Contractors of America’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force. On this ConstructorCast episode, they open up about the front lines of an industry in crisis, and share how they are bringing hope to so many across the nation. Listen to the full episode at agc.org/constructorcast, or stream on your favorite podcast app!

The construction sector added 15,000 jobs in April while the sector’s unemployment rate fell to a record low for the month and the number of unfilled construction positions is close to a monthly high, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials said the industry likely would have added even more positions if contractors could find more qualified workers. “Contractors can’t find, reach, hire and train workers fast enough to keep pace with demand,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “The pool of qualified, available labor is the smallest…

In 2020, AGC partnered with Autodesk to distribute 300 safety harnesses designed for women to 20 companies nationwide. This video follows up with Christman Constructors, Inc., one of the grant recipients, to see how they are benefiting from the smaller fitting harnesses and to emphasize the importance of proper fitting PPE. Over the past few years, the number of women working in construction has significantly increased, and Christman Constructors is dedicated to supporting diversity and equity in the trades. The new harnesses, which provide better comfort and mobility, are greatly appreciated by the women in their workforce. The improved design…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working on new programs to standardize the use of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and develop a low-carbon emission construction materials program as specified by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EPDs provide data on the environmental attributes of a product and are a tool to support “buy clean” programs that mandate the use of low-carbon materials. Buy clean programs are new and untested. On May 1, AGC provided written feedback to EPA that urges a measured approach to reduce any negative impacts on the supply chain and encourages innovation. AGC highlighted the need to control the…

Construction employment increased in 259, or 72 percent, of 358 metro areas between March 2022 and March 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials said expanding manufacturing construction was helping drive demand for new workers in many parts of the country. “The growth in manufacturing construction is helping offset softening demand for housing and other types of projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer referring to new construction spending data the association releasedearlier this week. “The manufacturing boom is one of the key reasons construction firms in many parts…