National Labor Relations Board's independent contractor ruling called 'employer friendly'

Though misclassification of workers as independent contractors doesn't violate the National Labor Relations Act, a legal expert advises contractors in doubt to classify workers as employers.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 4, 2019

DOL apprenticeship plan stirs debate among contractors

The controversy centers on whether construction should be exempt from a proposed provision that paves the way for standard-setting training programs.

By Jennifer Goodman • Sept. 3, 2019

Illinois enacts new retainage law amid national trend

Twenty states have restricted owners' withholding of contractor payments, a lawyer says, and the state's action could prompt others to make the change.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 28, 2019

Why it's time to take your safety enrollments and orientations online.

Can you reduce Day 1 downtime and make your job site safer? Top companies are doing it and here’s how. 

Aug. 28, 2019

The Dotted Line: When contractors can walk off the job

Certain project dynamics give GCs or construction managers the right to stop work and bill for doing so.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 27, 2019

OSHA consults industry on silica standard refinements

Despite detailed control measures, the agency believes some workers can still be exposed to the breathable hazard and wants field experts to weigh in.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 22, 2019

OSHA fines I-4 Ultimate JV $15K for worker death

SGL Constructors, a joint venture between Skanska USA, Granite Construction and The Lane Construction Corp., was cited for the fourth fatal accident on the project since construction began in 2015.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 20, 2019

Graham Construction: Equipment that killed worker was 'manifestly faulty'

The general contractor said Canadian prosecutors were right not to pursue charges against it for the 2016 jobsite death of a subcontractor's employee.

By Kim Slowey • Updated Aug. 19, 2019

Florida authorities investigating We Build the Wall

The criminal investigation is focused on how the private group behind border wall construction raises funds and allocates money.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 15, 2019

In its largest case yet, New York's DOL recovers $6M in unpaid construction wages

AGL Industries pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and will have to pay the 500 welders and ironworkers it shorted on overtime pay.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 14, 2019

An inside look at a failed roofing repair

OSHA called the $2 million San Diego State University roof project, in which dangerous volatiles were released, "a case study in what not to do."

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 14, 2019

More states invest in flood control programs

States are finding they have to supplement FEMA funds with their own when it comes to repairing flood-damaged infrastructure.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 12, 2019

Report: Trump construction firm uses undocumented workers

The Trump Organization's Mobile Construction Payroll business unit has allegedly been employing undocumented workers to perform small construction projects at a Trump winery and golf resorts.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 12, 2019

Louis Berger only firm refusing to settle FIU bridge collapse claims

All but one company being sued by victims' families and survivors of the March 2018 Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse have reached financial settlements.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 12, 2019

Unpaid $412K OSHA fine lands New Jersey contractor in contempt of court

If Altor Inc. and its president don't pay up this month, they may face an additional daily penalty.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 8, 2019

Study: Workplace injuries drive rise in overdoses, suicides

An injury triggering at least one week off from work almost tripled the combined risk of accidental and intentional death among women and increased the risk by 50% among men, researchers found.

By Lisa Burden • Aug. 6, 2019

SNC-Lavalin failed to meet minimum technical score for CA$663M light-rail project

An Ottawa, Canada, city official gave detailed bidder score information to the city council after some members expressed concern that the bidding process for the Trillium Line and other projects was not transparent enough.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 6, 2019

SBA raises revenue limits for small business certifications

Under current Small Business Administration guidelines, small construction firms are those with $36.5 million in annual sales or less, but the new rule raises that threshold to $39.5 million.

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 3, 2019

Arizona court stops $1B Rosemont copper mine construction

Hudbay Minerals' project will likely face continued delays as the company moves through the appeals process. 

By Kim Slowey • Aug. 1, 2019

Canadian proposal would extend residency to migrant construction workers

The country is looking at new ways for its already immigrant-heavy construction workforce to fill a persistent labor shortage.

By Anying Guo • Aug. 1, 2019

The prime contractor's biggest struggle with prevailing wage compliance

Gain control over the “uncontrollable.” Mitigate your own risk by ensuring your subs are compliant.

July 30, 2019

Plumbing company settles EEOC claims that it assigned only Latino workers to sewer duty

When a worker complained, a supervisor told him to return to the sewer, threatened to replace him and referred to him by a pejorative, the EEOC said.

By Lisa Burden • July 29, 2019

Supreme Court allows border wall construction to move forward

The high court vacated a permanent injunction put in place by a U.S. District Court judge, allowing for use of $2.5 billion of military funds for the construction of barriers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

By Kim Slowey • July 28, 2019

EB-5 visa changes set for Q4

Higher investment thresholds and a reworking of a special investment zone could affect development and construction industries starting in November.

By Kim Slowey • July 26, 2019

Employer or employee: Who's to blame for OSHA violations?

If a contractor has trained its employees on safety rules and a few workers refuse to follow procedures, it sometimes comes down to individual worker misconduct.

By Kim Slowey • July 25, 2019