City suspends $9.7M of Salesforce Transit Center funding, testing delayed

While denying the funding request, which would have brought rail service into the hub, the San Francisco Transportation Authority board questioned the Transbay Joint Powers Authority's management and financial capabilities.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 25, 2018

OSHA considers silica rule changes

The agency is seeking input on whether additional methods of silica dust control should be added to Table 1 to further minimize employers' requirements to measure workers' exposure.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 24, 2018

OSHA fines Pennsylvania contractor $331K for fatal electrocution accident

In addition to proposed penalties, OSHA added the deceased worker's employer, Insight Pipe Contracting, to its severe violator program.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 23, 2018

Top 6 OSHA fines levied since May

Once again, most of OSHA's biggest citations against contractors center around falls and trench safety, with $304,000 being the largest fine levied.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2018

Salesforce Transit Center GC sues owner for $150M

The Webcor/Obayashi joint venture alleges the Transbay Joint Powers Authority breached its contract on the flawed San Francisco facility and failed to make "critical decisions required to keep the project on time and on budget."

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 22, 2018

Two New York firms implicated in minority contractor fraud

The FBI alleged Bell Mechanical and Kaplan Schmidt Electric used a "pass through" to fraudulently credit a minority-owned company for work it did not perform in the Rochester school district.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 17, 2018

EB-5 investors sue Florida developer for alleged $99.5M fraud

Ninety Chinese plaintiffs claim that Nicholas Mastroianni II, head of the U.S. Immigration Fund, misused their investment in a mixed-use project through several shell companies.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 15, 2018

DHS waives environmental rules for Texas border wall work

The Department of Homeland Security can bypass environmental regulations to construct and fill gaps in the barrier in Cameron County, but it says it will remain "committed to environmental stewardship."

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 12, 2018

FAA act reauthorizes $3.35B annually for airport improvements

President Donald Trump signed the five-year bill into law, cementing federal funds for airport infrastructure and $1.7 billion for post-hurricane disaster relief.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 9, 2018

San Francisco looks toward tougher seismic building codes

City officials are targeting recommendations at the 100 out of 156 high-rises that were built before modern seismic codes went into effect.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 8, 2018

OSHA increases excavation and trenching enforcement after wave of fatalities

But before starting its new enforcement efforts, OSHA will conduct a 30-day educational outreach phase.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 4, 2018

Pennsylvania updates building codes for first time in 10 years

Some changes to the commonwealth's code, which are based on the 2015 version of the International Building Code, were adopted in full, while others were approved with some deletions or revisions.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 4, 2018

9 drone providers join FAA low-altitude initiative

The Federal Aviation Administration now counts 14 industry partners that can fly in controlled airspace and receive approval to do so in seconds.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 3, 2018

California activists propose ballot measure that would stop $77B bullet train

The new measure, which is in response to critics of Proposition 6, would force the governor to stop construction on the bullet train and spend remaining funds on other state transportation projects.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 28, 2018

San Francisco sues former city official for permit fraud

Authorities claim that former building commission chief Rodrigo Santos used his knowledge of the city's permitting process to aid in the filing of false and misleading applications.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 24, 2018

How to protect and retain immigrant workers

Awaiting President Donald Trump's next policy move, construction executives underscore the economic contributions of foreign-born workers, who make up 25% of the workforce, while unions and others call for better safeguards against wage theft and jobsite injury.

By Kathleen Brown • Sept. 24, 2018

Hiring mandates still on the rise, contractors slow to pose a challenge

Hiring goals can sometimes be in conflict with the realities of the labor market contractors face today.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 24, 2018

OSHA cites 5 contractors in FIU bridge collapse, proposes fines totaling $87K

A regional administrator said each contractor "failed to take appropriate action and provide the necessary protections" to employees on the job that day.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 21, 2018

Proposed Detroit ordinance could mandate 51% local hires for all city construction work

City Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield proposed the measure as part of a package of "People's Bills" that she said will benefit Detroit residents.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 20, 2018

How to get an in-house drone program 'off the ground'

It can be daunting for a construction company, consultants said, but if contractors set out clear business strategies and safety protocols, narrow their focus and get other teams on board, there's promise of success.

By Kathleen Brown • Sept. 19, 2018

FERC allows construction to resume on Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The 600-mile pipeline was put on hold after a federal appeals court invalidated permits for where it crosses federal lands in Virginia.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 18, 2018

NLRB reconsiders construction collective bargaining rules

The National Labor Relations Board may change unions' requirements to prove that a pre-hire deal with a contractor has transformed into a full relationship.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 13, 2018

Industry petitions OSHA to establish heat standard

More than 130 organizations asked the agency to establish protection rules for workers exposed to heat, the leading weather-related killer in the U.S.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 10, 2018

Construction exec indicted for trying to bribe DC Metro official

Contractor Hardutt Singh allegedly attempted to bribe the former head of the Metro's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Department.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 7, 2018

Virginia contractor faces proposed $304K for silica violations

Five citations against Roanoke-based Lanford Brothers Co. could result in the largest fine imposed to date under OSHA's new silica rule.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 6, 2018