The Department of Defense (DOD) will roll out its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) in January 2020 so that it can ensure contractors on government projects have the necessary cybersecurity practices in place to protect the controlled unclassified information (CUI) to which they are privy.

A recent study showed pre-employment screening can reduce workers’ compensation costs per hour by 29% and per incident by 25%. Implementing a comprehensive background check and pre-employment screening solution is an essential step toward protecting a construction company, employees and customers.

Despite signs the overall economy may be slowing, most construction firms expect demand for their services and hiring will expand in 2020, yet even more firms are worried about their ability to find qualified workers to hire, according to survey results released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate.

Firmus, a Tel Aviv-based construction technology company, is one of seven startups selected for the latest cohort of smart city-focused accelerator Urban-X. Sponsored by British automotive manufacturer Mini, Urban-X focuses on issues such as mobility, energy consumption, infrastructure, housing, food waste and water. 

On Dec. 19, the Senate passed many non-funding measures as part of the agreement reached to fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2020. This legislation extends authorization for the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (TRIA) for seven years, as well as the National Flood Insurance Program for one year. These programs provide an important government backstop for natural and man-made disasters that would otherwise prevent commercial construction projects from moving forward. Additionally, this bill addresses many priorities in the tax, healthcare and retirement space.

On Jan. 1, 2020 several states began to allow recreational use of marijuana, calling into question the effects of legalization on employer drug policies. Make sure you're ready.

OSHA has issued corrections for its Walking-Working Surfaces, Personal Protective Equipment and Special Industries standards to remove “typographical, formatting and clerical errors,” publishing a final rule in the Dec. 17 Federal Register.

The share of workers quitting jobs hit a post-Great-Recession high in 2019, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics, challenging employers even further in this era of low unemployment and competition for qualified workers. Construction companies large and small are flush with projects. Yet, their ability to fulfill those projects could be jeopardized by the realities of today’s labor market, in which workers are in such high demand that both candidates and current employees are being actively targeted by job recruiters.

A diverse cross-section of jobs require eye and face protection, and neglecting to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment is one common mistake workers make.

Modular construction was once a cheap solution for properties in lower-priced areas. That has slowly changed over the last several years and modular construction is now used in a variety of high-end commercial real estate projects. In fact, the modular construction market is projected to reach as high as $157 billion by 2023.

Join us in Las Vegas, March 23-26, 2020 for the 2020 CISCA Convention and INTEX. Registration is now open and there is a special CISCA rate for lodging. For additional questions, call CISCA at 630-584-1919 or email cisca@cisca.org.

The Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA) invites applications for their Construction Excellence Awards competition. Award winners will be recognized at the dinner on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 during the CISCA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards ceremony features a multi-media presentation of all submissions and winning projects. Winners will be featured in the Acoustical Interior Construction magazine and on the CISCA website.

CISCA is the global premier authority for the interior construction, acoustical ceilings and acoustical treatment industry. Market your products/services to the multi-billion dollar interior systems industry today.

Assembly Bills 1804 and 1805, recently signed into law, change the definition of serious injuries and illnesses and how these incidents can be reported to Cal/OSHA. Both went into effect on January 1, 2020.