Enter that project or projects you are proud of today! the new deadline to submit an entry is February 19. Winners will be recognized at the dinner on Monday, April 12, 2021, during the CISCA Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Get started on your application today. For complete details on the 2021 Awards, view the awards flyer.

CISCA is partnering with manufacturers to host virtual Lunch & Learn. This is a great opportunity to explore and learn more about cutting-edge products and ask any questions. Lunch is provided. Registration is required at least 48 hours in advance.

Construction employment stagnated in January, ending eight months of recovery from the pandemic-related losses of early 2020, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials added that new measures being considered in Congress, including the PRO Act and the National Apprenticeship Act, threaten to undermine the sector’s recovery by disrupting ongoing projects and hampering employers’ ability to train workers.

Construction workers are among the least likely employees to say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if one were offered to them, underlining the challenges contractors will face getting their workforces inoculated.

On Jan. 29, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new guidance on protecting workers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Per OSHA, the guidance is not a standard or regulation, creates no new legal obligations and the recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards in the workplace.

Temporary construction workers face “unique barriers” to reporting injuries and near misses, according to researchers from the University of Miami and the NIOSH-funded Occupational Safety and Health Program at the Florida Department of Health.

Data from the Gallup Organization suggests that 85% of the global workforce is not engaged in their jobs, resulting in an economic consequence of approximately $7 trillion in lost productivity.

Working outdoors in the cold has its risks, but waiting until spring isn’t always an option when buildings or infrastructure are in need of repair. Without the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and layers, winter projects leave construction workers susceptible to hypothermia, trench foot and frostbite. Of course, the last thing any contractor wants to compromise on is safety.

The construction industry took the first step this month toward a BIM standard in the U.S. during an executive roundtable discussion hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences. The 40 roundtable participants included executives from Autodesk, Bentley, WSP and HDR, as well as leaders from federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Highway Administration.

CISCA is the global premier authority for the interior construction, acoustical ceilings and acoustical treatment industry, fostering professional development and exchanges for and between association members and industry professionals. Be sure to visit our website often as new material is posted regularly.

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.