Opinion: Page 2

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders


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  • A creative image of a hardhat next to rolled up plans.
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    Retrieved from pxhere.

    Take a STAND: How to combat suicide in construction

    John Somers, vice president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, provides a roadmap to implement a suicide prevention program on the jobsite.

    John Somers • Dec. 2, 2021
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images

    Energy-efficient infrastructure projects hold a key opportunity for contractors

    For builders that incorporate sustainable systems into their projects, the $1.80-per-square-foot 179D tax deduction can quickly climb to millions of dollars.

    Dean Zerbe • Nov. 16, 2021
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    Dean Mouhtaropoulos via Getty Images

    Modernizing construction with intelligent platforms

    A common data environment, combined with AI and machine learning, captures data and makes it more meaningful and useful to construction workers moving forward, writes one executive. 

    Roz Buick • Nov. 10, 2021
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

    How Balfour Beatty takes a multipronged approach to severe weather preparedness

    From securing equipment to using real-time monitoring technology, the contractor's storm preparedness plan helps mitigate potential risks from hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather.

    Christopher Diaz, Eric Yates • Oct. 26, 2021
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images

    Be a builder, not a fixer: How to make rework a game changer

    Technology can help identify and fix errors before work is done to avoid costly and time-consuming delays. 

    Doron Klein • Oct. 20, 2021
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    Getty Images

    Addressing the skilled labor shortage in 4 steps

    It's critical to spread the word that the trades are a smart and viable career option, writes the vice president of a Massachusetts electrical company.

    Luiza Mills • Oct. 7, 2021
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images

    Supply chain challenges aren't going away anytime soon

    Businesses should prepare for continued disruption and increased costs, writes a supply chain expert at CBRE.

    Joe Dunlap • Sept. 23, 2021
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images

    Is Biden's vaccine mandate legal? It doesn't matter.

    The administration has decided the economic and public health benefits of a requirement are worth the risk of a judicial defeat later, according to a human resources journalist.

    Kate Tornone • Sept. 15, 2021
  • Why recovery won't come easily for small and medium-sized construction firms

    Contractors must invest in digital technologies and clean up their balance sheets in order to benefit from the coming post-pandemic boom, writes a contech executive.

    Zaid Rahman • Sept. 1, 2021
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images

    A call to action for COVID-19 vaccinations in construction

    Construction managers must encourage workers to get vaccinated, says the owner of a New York-based contracting firm.

    Chuck Petersheim • Sept. 1, 2021
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images

    Selecting the right delivery method for the job

    What is the best type of delivery method? It depends on the project, according to three construction attorneys.

    Levi W. Barrett, Nathan A. Cohen, Stewart Shurtleff • Aug. 30, 2021
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images

    How safe is your business and personal data?

    As construction pros bring technology into their day-to-day processes, they are increasingly at risk for privacy issues.

    David Brian Ward • Aug. 25, 2021
  • Congress should take this opportunity to transform thousands of women’s lives by passing the infrastructure bill with the Gillibrand amendment.
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    Permission granted by James Kim Photography + PC Construction

    Infrastructure bill could expand opportunities for women

    With minor revisions, the federal infrastructure package could help open the door to more women and other minorities in construction.

    Lauren Sugerman • Aug. 24, 2021
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

    Navigate cannabis legalization to avoid employment litigation

    Employers should understand and adapt to cannabis legalization at both the state and federal levels, according to two experts.

    Karina Karassev and Kimberly Harding • Aug. 17, 2021
  • Photo of the Port of Charleston shared with SCD on July 22, 2020
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    Courtesy of South Carolina Ports Authority

    5 roadblocks that could slow construction's recovery

    If the industry can overcome these challenges, it will reap decades of unparalleled growth, writes construction attorney Barry B. LePatner.

    Barry B. LePatner • Aug. 6, 2021
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    Apu Gomes via Getty Images

    Could 'smart walls' replace barriers at the US-Mexico border?

    President Joe Biden's stop-work order on construction of a southern border barrier doesn’t mean the end of contract opportunities for private companies, writes security expert Nelson Balido.

    Nelson Balido • July 28, 2021
  • How safety programs can help contractors save on insurance

    By following a few basic guidelines, employers can implement or improve their documented safety programs in order to potentially lower their insurance costs, according to two risk management experts.

    Blair Koorsen and Jeff Greenhalgh • June 25, 2021
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    Courtesy of HAP Construction

    10 COVID-19 logistics lessons for construction firms

    A methodical approach to tracking materials helped to make New York City-based HAP Construction more productive during the pandemic, according to vice president Stefano Braganti.

    Stefano Braganti • June 21, 2021
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    Permission granted by American Robotics

    What to know before starting a drone program

    Contractors need a robust system for storing, sharing and filing the images gathered by drones, according to a data capture expert.

    Rod Dir • June 9, 2021
  • 7 fundamentals of a no-nonsense toolbox talk

    An insurance expert offers tips on how to deliver a valuable jobsite safety presentation in less than 15 minutes.

    Sam Meenasian • May 27, 2021
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    Courtesy of Procore

    Delay provided perfect timing for Procore's $635M IPO

    Stalled by the pandemic, the construction management software firm’s recent initial public offering positions it to take advantage of several positive market factors this year.

    Dmytro Spilka • May 26, 2021
  • How to fulfill the innovation potential of D&I initiatives

    Diversity and inclusion goals can help construction firms spur innovation, but it doesn't happen automatically, writes executive coach Gary Covert.

    Gary Covert • May 12, 2021
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    Patterson, Richard. Retrieved from Flickr.

    6 steps to protect your data and improve cybersecurity

    Construction firms that embrace technology also leave the door open to cyber risk, says insurance expert Phil Casto. Here's how to protect your data.

    Phil Casto • April 21, 2021
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    Permission granted by Integrated Builders

    Take these steps to avoid COVID-19 personal injury lawsuits

    The more a construction firm can limit workers' exposure to the coronavirus on the job, the less likely it will be liable for either an OSHA violation or a lawsuit, according to attorney Stefan Borovina.

    Stefan Borovina • Feb. 4, 2021
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    Yujin Kim/Construction Dive

    2020's data can help construction firms succeed in 2021

    Before creating a strategy for the year ahead, it’s important to take a look back and evaluate your projects and teams from the year before. Here are five metrics to consider.

    Michel Richer • Feb. 3, 2021