Mark your calendars for the following webinars. Attendance is free to CISCA members, but you must register.

July 28 at 1:00 pm CT – Susan Silver – Maximizing your Marketing Department of One
September 22 at 1:00 pm CT – Matt Booth – A Positive Attitude in a Negative World

In late April, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued updated COVID-19 FAQs related to contractor vaccine policies. Consistent with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) messaging, contractors have been recommending — and in some instances mandating — employees receive the vaccine. OSHA’s new interpretation of recordability stemming from adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine when contractors mandate employees take the vaccine, or simply recommend it, has the potential to deter vaccination efforts. AGC is not opposing the requirement for contractors that — at their own discretion — mandate employee vaccination to record adverse reactions on their OSHA 300 Log. However, AGC is concerned when construction owners or clients pass the mandate down to contractors to vaccinate their employees.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) finalized its recent proposal to officially withdraw a Trump administration final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The previous final rule originally was to be effective on March 8, 2021, however, a recent proposal delayed that date to allow the agency “the opportunity to review and consider the questions of law, policy, and fact raised by the rule[s].” The withdrawal is effective immediately without any replacement or new guidance and employers are advised to rely on past court decisions and WHD guidance to determine whether those workers are employees under the FLSA or independent contractors.

The headlines pop up with alarming regularity, from coast to coast and all points in between, buttressing estimates from the National Insurance Crime Bureau that about $1 billion in construction equipment is stolen in the United States each year.

Construction input prices increased 1.3% in April compared to the previous month, according to a recently released Associated Builders and Contractors' analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 1.6% for the month.

Until new guidance is complete, OSHA has directed employers to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding mask use and social distancing for fully vaccinated workers.

The construction labor shortage is dire. According to the 2020 Workforce Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, more than half of responding construction firms said they could not find enough skilled tradespeople for their open jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered job stability and the job market for many professions. But for occupational safety and health pros, the results of Safety+Health’s 2021 Job Outlook survey indicate stability – and even optimism – for the near future.

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.