Press Room
SWACCA Applauds National Apprenticeship Week
SWACCA (Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance) today announced its strong support for National Apprenticeship Week, a week-long recognition of the value of apprenticeships to the future U.S. workforce. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), National Apprenticeship Week runs November 12-18.
National Apprenticeship Week highlights the benefits that privately-funded, high-quality registered apprenticeship programs -- such as those SWACCA sponsors with its union
OSHA Creates New National Emphasis Program for Trenching and Excavation
By Douglas J. Suter, Hahn Loeser
Effective October 1, 2018, Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a new National Emphasis Program (Directive Number CPL-02-00-161) for Trenching and Excavation due to a recent spike in trenching fatalities nationwide.
This new Program provides updated guidance and increased enforcement on the National Emphasis Program OSHA has had in place for
Mind the Gap: Insurance Coverage for Construction Defects in the Wake of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Decision in Ohio Northern
By: Ian H. Frank, Frantz Ward LLP
On October 9, 2018, the Ohio Supreme Court issued an important decision in Ohio N. Univ. v. Charles Constr. Servc., Inc., Slip Opinion 2018-Ohio-4057. Departing from the majority view, the Ohio Supreme Court held that a general contractor’s commercial general liability (CGL) policy does not cover claims for property damage caused by a subcontractor’s
Community Finds CEA’s Outreach for Labor ‘Helpful’
By Rhonda Crowder
Journey Steel - We Build and Support Dreams
Nothing embodies the mission of Journey Steel, Inc. more than its tagline: “We build and support dreams.” This certified women- and minority-owned firm was founded by Barb Smith and Tom Garten, after Barb had been continually passed over for promotions and leadership opportunities. Inspired by the perseverance of her late father against segregation, Barb embraced her entrepreneurial spirit and joined
Protect Your Bottom Line on Ohio Construction Projects
By: Andrew Natale and Rob Remington, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
Beware! On October 9, 2018, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a final ruling that, not surprisingly, will effectively eliminate meaningful insurance coverage for contractors, subcontractors, and owners for defective construction work."
Ohio Contractor Tom Martin Named SMACNA 2018 Contractor of the Year
Tom Martin, President of T.H. Martin Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, received the annual SMACNA Contractor of the Year award.
It is his commitment and dedication to the construction industry that has earned him this prestigious national award."
Port of Cleveland Ups Inclusion Goals, Sets $15 Minimum Wage for Services
The Port of Cleveland is setting higher thresholds for putting minority-owned and woman-owned businesses to work on the construction projects it touches. And the government agency will require service contractors it hires to pay workers at least $15 an hour, under a series of updated policies approved this week.
Construction Material Costs Increase 7.4 Percent, as Contractors Continue to be Squeezed by Tariffs and Rising Fuel Prices
The cost of many products used in construction climbed 7.4 percent over the past year due to double digit increases in commonly-used construction materials, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data. Association officials noted that the cost increases come as many construction firms are already grappling with shortages of skilled craftsmen
AGCA Tariffs Updates - September 2018
On Sept. 17, the Trump administration announced the implementation of a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to the U.S., including a wide range of construction materials and supplies (see attached spreadsheet for construction-related items, as there are a lot of them).
Scheduled to take effect on Sept. 24, the complete list of Chinese goods