Members' Edge - April 23, 2020

In this issue...

AGC Houston is committed to providing our members with valuable resources and updates during these challenging times.

We need to do our part to keep everyone safe with a continued focus on COVID-19 best practices for safety.

Keep checking our website for a continuously updated list of resources and materials.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613071&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613072&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613073&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Education/Training

AGC Houston Will Soon Announce New Webinar Professional Education Classes!

June 5: Texas Lien Laws

June 5: Advanced Texas Lien Laws

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613086&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

AGC Education and Research Foundation Workforce Scholarship Application

The AGC Education and Research Foundation offer a Workforce Development Scholarships to individuals enrolled in accredited technical schools or craft training programs in any discipline of commercial construction.

Interested individuals have until June 1, 2020 to apply for $1,000 scholarships (renewal for up to two years) from the AGC Education and Research Foundation.

To review the complete list of criteria click here. Students can apply here.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613087&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Safety

Upcoming Safety Classes

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613093&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

OSHA Offers Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for CoronaVirus

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” to help companies respond in the event of coronavirus in the workplace. The guidance was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

In addition to the guidance, OSHA's COVID-19 webpage provides infection prevention information specifically for workers and employers, and is actively reviewing and responding to any complaints regarding workplace protection from novel coronavirus, as well as conducting outreach activities.

For further information about Coronavirus, please visit the HHS’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613094&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

AGC News

Construction Employment Declines in 20 States and D.C. in March

AGC of America Releases New Survey Results And Call for More Small Business Relief Aid

Construction employment declined in 20 states and D.C. in March, aligning with the results of a recent survey by AGC ofAmerica that found growing layoffs amid new project cancellations and state funding constraints.

“While construction employment declined in many parts of the country last month, far more states, local governments and project owners have halted construction in the five weeks since the government collected this data,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/04/17/construction-employment-declines-20-states-and-dc-march-line-industry-survey-showing to view the full article online.

AGC Announces Damage from the Pandemic to the Economy and Construction

Evidence is mounting rapidly as to the damage from the pandemic to the economy and construction. “Economic activity contracted sharply and abruptly across all regions in the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Federal Reserve reported on Wednesday in the latest “Beige Book,” a summary of informal surveys of businesses in the 12 Fed districts from late February to April 5.

AGC of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson released new findings in his monthly DataDigest Report.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613099&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

AGC Texas Building Branch 2020 Convention

AGC TBB's convention will be taking place June 15 through June 17, 2020, at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA. Click here for more details. Conference registration ends May 29, 2020.The last day to book hotel rooms is May 10, 2020.

Registration includes a Monday evening reception, Tuesday and Wednesday sessions and luncheons, and Wednesday night dinner.

Visit https://www.agctbb.org/ to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613193&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613162&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Greater Houston Partnership Provides an Update on the Region's Economy

In this episode of the Greater Houston Partnership's Bayou Business Download, we get an update on the impact of COVID-19 on our region and examine the worsening fallout from the oil market. Partnership Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski gives us his latest analysis on jobs, industry sectors and what's in store for Houston.

Visit https://www.houston.org/news/bayou-business-download-dual-debacle?_zs=oEbDD1&_zl=H6Kj5 to view the full article online.

Construction Layoffs Spread Rapidly Across Metro Areas

More than a quarter of construction firms responding to an online survey conducted by AGC America last week reported they had furloughed or terminated jobsite workers because of the coronavirus pandemic. The finding contrasts starkly with the association’s analysis of government data released that showed a majority of the nation’s metro areas added construction jobs through February. Read more.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613106&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

$4.3B in Construction Loans Affected by Shutdown

Construction shutdowns across the US due to the coronavirus pandemic could affect more than $4.3 billion in loans, according to data from Built. "What we have is the convergence of a hard market and confusion of how much new work we will have when we turn the spigot back on," said Joe Charczenko of insurance and surety brokerage Construction Risk Partners.

Visit https://therealdeal.com/2020/04/08/shutdown-poses-big-risks-for-projects-even-when-it-ends/ to view the full article online.

Pandemic Figures Into Growth of Construction Tech

Investment in construction technology has been soaring in recent years, but the coronavirus pandemic is acting as a litmus test for continued interest. Despite slow construction growth, demand for tech is picking up as managers seek ways to keep tabs on projects remotely.

Visit https://www.constructiondive.com/news/as-coronavirus-necessitates-technology-usage-investors-seem-keen-on-contec/575680/ to view the full article online.

US DOL Adds to Emergency Paid Leave Q&As and Begins Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently added a number of new “Questions and Answers” to provide information to employers about meeting their requirements to offer emergency paid sick leave and paid family medical leave offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2020/04/22/us-dol-adds-emergency-paid-leave-qas-and-begins-enforcement to view the full article online.

IRS Offers Several Online Resources to Help Taxpayers During Pandemic

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613109&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Resources

AGC Houston COVID-19 Recommended Practices for Construction Jobsites

AGC Houston recently compiled a recommended practices document for jobsites in English and in Spanish. As we continue to monitor the situation, it will update it as needed. Be sure to check the AGC Houston COVID-19 Resources page frequently.

What best practices are working for you? Let us know! Please send your commentsand photos to catherine.b@agchouston.org.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613088&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

COVID-19 Jobsite Posters, Videos and Other Resources

OSHA 3394 - English: Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus

OSHA 3395 - Spanish: Diez Medidas que Todos los Lugares de Trabajo Pueden Tomar para Prevenir la Exposición al Coronavirus

AGC of America's National COVID-19 Safety Stand Down Resources (includes tool box talks, job site posters, and more.)

COVID-19 Recommended Practices for Construction Jobsite

English & Spanish

The Department of Labor video quick tips on social distancing, disinfecting workplaces and industry risk factors to keep workers safe from COVID-19.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613090&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=613172&issueID=69069 to view the full article online.