The worst day on the job is when someone on site gets injured. The 2nd through 500th worst days are the legal battle that follows many of those injuries. Nobody expects accidents to happen, but it’s best to be adequately prepared if one does. That not only includes knowing how to react to injuries with a safety plan, but also making sure your company’s documentation is in order in case lawsuits start flying.
Read moreThe Importance of Using Daily Job Reports
The following article was written by Miami Construction Lawyer Alex Barthet
In a court of law, a contractor’s daily reports are critical. In many instances, they are considered key evidence showing what actually occurred at specific times on the job. And since people’s memories fade, a court will likely rely heavily on what the daily reports say happened (especially when presented with a corroborating witness).
Read moreTrump Imposes Tariffs up to 24% on Canadian Softwood Lumber
Softwood lumber, often used for structural framing and decking, among other uses, may be seeing a price increase in the US in the near future. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that they will be imposing tariffs of up to 24% on all softwood lumber imported from Canada.
Read moreIs The Construction Law Landscape Changing?
The following is a guest post written by Laurence Banville, Esq.
Construction is on the rise again, especially in the Northeast region of the U.S. The attractive landscapes of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and New York are drawing people back to the east coast. People are finding that they can get that country home feel with metropolitan access, and most are building new homes and businesses in these states for that very reason. Of course, with new and increased construction comes new and increased personal injury cases. Newer technology and methods of construction are also changing the frequency and types of injuries too. All those changes seem to be changing construction law practice.
Read moreUPDATE: Senate Votes to Repeal Federal ‘Blacklisting’ Rule
In February, the House of Representatives voted 236-187 on a resolution to block the ‘blacklisting' rule, sending it to the Senate for a second vote. The act would have given the federal government the ability to disqualify contractors if they violated any of the 14 labor laws, which can be found here, over the past 3 years on any project totaling $500,000 or more
Read more[Infographic] 10 Reasons Construction Companies Go Out of Business
As of the first quarter of 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are over 768,000 construction companies currently operating in the private industry in America. There are also countless more that have come and gone. According to Statistic Brain, only 47% of construction startup businesses are still operating after year 4. Personally, I've seen many people break off from a construction company and create their own business; some are still in operation, others have failed.
Read moreThe FBI Is Investigating the Construction of a Minor League Baseball Stadium
OSHA inspectors and city building officials are usually the people that can make life pretty uncomfortable for construction companies, but it’s a whole different story when the FBI comes calling. A new stadium for the Double-A minor league baseball team, the Hartford Yard Goats, was supposed to open before the 2016 season, but delays and cost overruns have pushed that opening well into 2017. Now, the FBI is investigating, according to the Hartford Courant.
Read moreUS EPA Releases 2017 Construction General Permit for Stormwater Discharges
In an announcement made in mid-January, the US EPA has officially released the updated 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP) for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities. The draft of the new permit was released last year and the 45 day public comment period ended on May 26, 2016. The 2017 CGP will go into effect starting February 16, 2016.
Read moreContractor “Blacklisting” Rule Close to Being Repealed
In July of 2016, the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order was signed into effect and has been a hotbed of controversy, especially within the construction industry, ever since. The act would have given the federal government the ability to disqualify contractors if they violated any of the 14 labor laws, which can be found here, over the past 3 years on any project totaling $500,000 or more.
Read moreUPDATE: Construction Foreman Sentenced to Jail After Deadly Trench Collapse Killed 22 Year Old
photo by Andy Rogers, CC BY-SA 2.0
Trenches are a construction jobsite hazard that happen on nearly every construction site involving dirt work, but, all too often their dangers are underestimated. In fact, trench related deaths in 2016 have more than doubled as compared to 2015. There’s no excuse for allowing a trench related death to happen, but it’s rare that job site supervision suffers criminal charges after one occurs. After the death of a 22 year old New York construction worker, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office took a hard stance against those responsible and announced formally sentenced the on-site foreman last week.
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