Construction firms plan to expand headcount in 2018
Seventy-five percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2018, as contractors are optimistic economic conditions will remain strong as tax rates and regulatory burdens fall, according to survey results released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. Despite the general optimism outlined in “Expecting Growth to Continue: The 2018 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook,” many firms remain worried about workforce shortages and infrastructure funding.
Respondents are very optimistic about demand for all types of construction services as measured by the net positive reading — the percentage of respondents who expect a market segment to expand versus the percentage who expect a market segment to contract. The net positive reading for all types of construction is 44 percent, the highest yet recorded in the association’s Outlook survey series.
Association officials noted 75 percent of firms will increase their headcount in 2018, up slightly from 73 percent last year. Firms in many parts of the country are already adding to their headcounts. Among the fastest- growing metro areas are Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California; New York City; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
For more information, visit www.Agc.org or call (703) 548-3118.
Expansion in materials, equipment pricing driving construction costs
Construction costs rose again in January, according to IHS Markit and the Procurement Executives Group (PEG). The current headline IHS Markit PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index registered 56.3, up 1.4 points compared to December. Both material/equipment and labor sub-indexes registered rising prices.
The materials/equipment price index posted a strong 58.9 in January, moving up from the December figure of 54.6. Once again, price increases were broad. Turbines and heat exchangers had lower prices, but the remaining 10 categories in the current materials and equipment sub-index continued to show increasing prices. The diffusion index for most categories came in higher compared to last month. Ocean freight indexes — both Asia to the U.S. and Europe to the U.S. — had large increases compared to December, indicating a sharp improvement in conditions.
For more information, visit https:// ihsmarkit.com
OSHA, NAWIC align for safety, health of female construction workers
OSHA and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) recently renewed their alliance to continue promoting safe and healthful working conditions for female construction workers.
The five-year alliance will focus on hazards of particular concern to women in the construction industry, including PPE selection, sanitation, and workplace intimidation and violence.
“Women represent a small but growing segment of the construction workforce,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “OSHA’s renewed alliance with NAWIC will continue to promote innovative solutions to safety and health hazards unique to female construction workers.”
Alliance participants will share with employers and workers information on recognizing and preventing workplace hazards in construction, as well as information on OSHA campaigns, including the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, Heat Illness Prevention, and the Safe + Sound Campaign for Safety and Health Programs.
For more information, visit www.Osha.gov or www.nawic.org.
Report discusses caught-in/between injuries, prevention
A new report from the CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training discusses caught-in/ between hazards, along with falls, struck-by and electrocution.
The report covers the Focus Four hazards identified by OSHA as leading causes of fatalities in construction. To prevent construction workers from caught-in/between injuries, specific hazards and working environments should be taken into account for safety and health intervention programs.
To read the full report, visit www.Cpwr.com.