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Construction News, Technology, Safety, and Tools

1933’s House of Tomorrow to Finally Be Restored After Falling into Disrepair

November 11, 2016 Shane Hedmond

World’s fairs have been held in varying locations across the globe since 1844 and are responsible for some of the most memorable buildings and structures that still stand today. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was originally built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was built to coincide with the 1939 World Fair, and Seattle’s Space Needle was designed and built for the 1962 World’s Fair (you can check out photos of the construction here), just to name a few.

At the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, 16 homes were constructed for display to promote new building products and materials to the fair-goers.

The World’s Tallest Building Gets Its Own World’s Tallest Lego Building Replica

November 10, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Photo by John Christian Fjellestad, CC BY 2.0 — Photo by John Christian Fjellestad, CC BY 2.0

The Burj Khalifa currently holds 18 world records, including the ever-coveted “tallest building in the world” honor. The United Arab Emirates’ 2,717 feet tall behemoth of a structure has held that title since its completion in 2009. Because of that, it seems only fitting that a replica of the skyscraper should hold the record for world’s tallest Lego building.

Foreman Convicted After Trench Collapse Kills 22 Year Old Construction Worker

November 9, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Every year, an average of 35 construction workers are killed by trench collapses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With proper shoring, benching, or sloping, each of these deaths is easily preventable. Generally, any trench that exceeds 5 feet in height needs to be properly protected, as the weight of soil can reach up to 3,000 pounds per cubic yard. For more on OSHA's trench safety guidelines, click here.

The Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guide 2016

November 3, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Now that we've got Halloween out of the way, it's time to start eating some turkey and buying gifts for your favorite people. Historically, construction professionals can be difficult to buy for, so we've compiled a list of products that we think would be home runs for that special person on your list or even help you decide what you'd like to ask for. We've got hands-on experience with many of these products and we like some so much that they also showed up on our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide! The list is broken up into four categories: stocking stuffers (small and inexpensive), apparel, tools, and kids.

Construction Industry Groups Successfully Delay 3 New OSHA, DOL Rulings

November 2, 2016 Shane Hedmond

It’s been a strenuous year for leading construction industry groups and American government agencies. Three controversial new rules, that were supposed to have been in effect at this point, have ignited a heated battle, including some lawsuits. New overtime pay rules, a ‘blacklisting’ rule, and an injury illness record keeping and reporting rule have been successfully delayed by leading construction industry groups. Below is a summary of the recent developments:

OSHA Proposes 18 Changes to Safety Standards

October 24, 2016 Shane Hedmond

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a lot of jobsite safety rules since its creation in 1971. Some of those rules have become outdated, due to a variety of reasons, or have caused unnecessary confusion for companies due to wording. Earlier this month, OSHA proposed 18 revisions to existing rules, with many affecting the construction industry.

The 10 Most Common OSHA Citations for Construction in the Past 12 Months

October 17, 2016 Shane Hedmond

2016 has been a big year for OSHA, as the organization has raised the cost of fines for safety violations for the first time since 1990. Made, effective in August, fines were raised 78%, making the cost of a serious violation $12,471. The construction industry is by far the most affected by OSHA regulations, as it accounted for 43.3% of all citations, 52.92% of all inspections, and 44.16% of all penalties assessed from October 2015 to September 2016. Of all specific types of contractors, roofing contractors account for the largest quantity of citations (6,924), following by framing contractors (3,810), and masonry contractors (2,501).

Dubai Officially Breaks Ground on New World’s Tallest Building Set to Open in 2020

October 13, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Dubai has held the record for world’s tallest building since the opening of the Burj Khalifa in 2010. The gigantic tower, which houses office, residential, retail, and hotel space spread over 163 floors stands 2,717 feet (828m) in the air. It was an impressive feat, once in which Dubai and the United Arab Emirates pride themselves on, but in a few short years, its crown will be passed to a new record holder.

[VIDEO] Habitat for Humanity’s 3 Year Eco Village Construction

October 10, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Habitat for Humanity is one of the construction industry’s favorite volunteer organization and for good reason. Over the past 40 years, the non-profit builder has helped construct, rehabilitate, or preserve over 800,000 affordable houses for families in need. It’s truly an area that construction workers throughout the world can showcase their skills and donate their time, in order to give back to their community.

How New US Labor Laws Could Affect Tens of Thousands of Construction Companies

October 4, 2016 Shane Hedmond

There have been several new laws in 2016, or new enforcement styles of existing laws, that are ready to make their mark on the construction industry. Among them are the US Department of Labor’s new rules on overtime pay and the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Act. Both laws affect the amount construction employees must be paid and when they should receive that pay, so documentation of employee time sheets and payments is becoming increasingly important. If your company plans to bid on any Federal Government work, violations of these new laws can keep you from getting the job.

Congratulations to our 2020 Best Construction Podcast Award Winner, Bridging the Gap!