Half of U.S. construction workforce hangs in immigration limbo

Auditing firms' I-9 files simply drives tax-paying but illegal immigrant workers to become subcontractors who pay nothing and stay hidden as "expenses" rather than "payroll."

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 8, 2014

OSHA fines, death lawsuit come from Texas A&M accidents

Two contractors have been assessed penalties in a June incident on the campus, and the family of a worker killed in a December demolition accident is suing six contractors.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 8, 2014

OSHA adds month for comments on plan for electronic injury reporting

The agency said it was adding the 30-day window because the National Association of Home Builders requested it.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 7, 2014

Employers will not have to post notice about workers' right to organize

Down 0-2 in court battles over a proposal to make employers put up right-to-organize notices, the National Labor Relations Board has dropped the idea.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 7, 2014

Denver mayor backs lawsuit limits to encourage condo building

Mayor Michael Hancock supports the idea of giving developers a chance to fix any problems before buyers are allowed to sue.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 6, 2014

AGC again urges DOT to hold off on regulation changes

Associated General Contractors filed comments saying that a proposal for more paperwork about hiring disadvantaged subcontractors is both expensive and perhaps ill-advised, given recent criticism.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 6, 2014

Protection through an LLC requires more than just filing papers

It is important to make clear that actions and decisions are being made for the LLC and to never mingle corporate and personal funds.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 2, 2014

Wider EPA authority over smaller water bodies could be contractors' headache

The Environmental Protection Agency is trying to clarify its authority to regulate what happens along brooks, streams and other small water bodies while opponents say there is no authority.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 2, 2014

Report: Two Calif. cities used outdated fault-zone info in approving projects

In Los Angeles and Santa Monica, local officials did not apply demanding state study requirements because maps did not show the real proximity of the faults to the buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • Jan. 1, 2014

Feds join local, state authorities in Denver construction fire probe

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives entered the investigation at the request of fire officials, who have not determined what turned the job site into a giant torch.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 17, 2013

Scientist sees low risk to public from development on contaminated Baltimore parcel

Beatty Development Group LLC is planning to build on a site on the city's Inner Harbor where a protective cap keeps chromium in place.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 10, 2013

N.Y. 'Scaffold Law' a point of contention between unions and contractors

The law puts the damages for a construction worker's fall all on the employer, no matter what.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 9, 2013

Supreme Court: Forum selection clause stands in contractor dispute

The court said a provision allowing the contractor to decide where a case should be heard remains in force barring a special reason to ignore it.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 6, 2013

Penn. concrete worker wins $2.25M in injury suit

The lawsuit should serve as a lesson in following procedure, even if it's frustrating.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

Running union, open-shop companies side-by-side is uncertain legal territory

Courts in different areas have ruled differently when unions have sued to say it's all the same business and contracts should apply.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

Crane crash, other problems change deadlines for World Cup venues

Construction on the Sao Paulo stadium where two workers died Nov. 27 has partially resumed, and arenas in two other cities are behind, so a Dec. 31 deadline has evaporated.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 4, 2013

Philly is considering construction worker IDs to prove safety training

If an ordinance that is floating around the City Council gets passed as written, workers on any construction job in Philadelphia would need an ID card showing they had OSHA safety training.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 4, 2013

Judge to sentence Penn. contractor, developer for mall project kickbacks

Springdale, Pa., contractor Robert E. Crawford pleaded guilty to mail fraud in a scheme that gave his company construction contracts in Washington state and California.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

Pa. contractor runs afoul of OSHA fall-prevention campaign

Airworks Construction faces a penalty of $36,960 after a complaint brought on an OSHA inspection.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 24, 2013

Pinnacle Construction simplifies subcontractor compliance

The company's project management arm developed a system that spans a range of requirements.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 21, 2013

Palo Alto to builders: Pick up the pace or pay fines

The California city is expected to pass an ordinance that will impose escalating fines if a project goes past the expiration of its permit without a builder getting an extension.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 21, 2013

U.S. charges N.J. contractor skipped millions in personal, workers' taxes

The U.S. attorney in New Jersey said Frank Chimento Jr. did not collect federal and state taxes from workers, did not make union benefit payments and dodged his own taxes.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 20, 2013

Cover your site, yourself and your workers with a written safety plan

Before scaffolding goes up or equipment rolls in, create a written safety plan specific to the job at hand and make every worker acknowledge getting a copy.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 17, 2013

Fla. contractor fined $77K for fatal 70-foot plunge

Coastal Masonry of Pompano Beach, Fla., has two weeks to decide if it will raise arguments against the fine levied by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 17, 2013

OSHA drops $397,000 in fines on demo contractors in fatal Philadelphia collapse

The government is continuing its probe of the June 5 wall collapse that killed six and hurt 14, but said no one would have died "if the two employers had followed very obvious and very basic safety precautions…."

By Ron Gallagher • Nov. 14, 2013