September, 2015

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Trends in Construction: 3 Ways Technology is Changing Commercial Construction

HardHatChat

The use of technology and apps for daily construction reporting, sharing photos and scheduling look-aheads has become common practice on today’s commercial construction job sites. A few days ago as I grabbed my smartphone before heading to the office, I thought back to the time when I would leave the house each morning with a pager and a roll of quarters in my pocket.

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Leverage the Skills of Service Contractors

Construction Business Owner

In an industry where bigger means better, service-oriented contractors are the often forgotten group of builders and constructors. For many firms, the service element of their business is the "little cousin," accounting for a significantly smaller portion of the firm's volume. However, as firms continue to explore the secrets to their success, this "little cousin" is often the more successful and financially stable family member, representing the lion's share of the margin dollars.

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2015 CMA STAR Awards Final Deadline

Construction Marketing

We are so pleased to announce our 5 th year of the Construction Marketing STAR™ awards and the Construction Marketer of the Year™ Awards. For companies, brands or individuals who demonstrate marketing excellence in the construction industry, we want to recognize and honor those entries soon. The final deadline to submit the entries is October 2, 2015.

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EPA Issues Significant Revisions to Underground Storage Tank Regulation

Green Building Law Update

EPA has issued significant revisions to the existing 1988 underground storage tank regulation that will impact most, if not all, businesses with USTs. EPA regulates over 571,000 USTs, down from a high of 2.1 million USTs in 1984. As of January 1, 2015, more than 525,000 UST releases (e.g., leaks) had been reported since 1988, many contaminating soil and drinking water. .

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Optimize Operational Processes With an Industry-Specific ERP

As the use of Enterprise Resource Planning systems in the construction industry is critical to optimizing operations, it's critical that decision makers conduct a thorough software evaluation to find the one that best aligns to their needs.

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September 2015 newsletter

FDR Safety

7 Tips for Building a Strong Contractor Safety Program. Project profile: Building Noah’s Ark. See you at the National Safety Council Congress. Join Our Mailing List. 7 Tips for Building a Strong Contractor Safety Program. By Jake Snyder. Court decisions have made it increasingly clear that employers share responsibility for the actions of contractors when it comes to safety on a worksite, but making sure that contractors follow through can be challenging.

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More Trending

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Workforce Will Almost Triple for SolarCity Construction

Construction Equipment

The work force at the SolarCity factory in Buffalo, N.Y., is expected to nearly triple to 1,460 jobs from 450, when the project hits full production in 2017, reports Buffalo News.

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What You Have to Measure, Track and Record Under ACA

Construction Business Owner

An Applicable Large Employer (ALE) must report to the IRS in monthly snapshots for the calendar year: 1) Those "full-time" employees (at least 30 hours of service per week), and 2) Whether they were offered healthcare coverage. But, what about those employees who are hired into positions with varying hours? That is where it gets tricky.

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The Startup Construction Business Checklist: 3 Important Documents You Need to Have

Construction Marketing

More people than ever before are starting their own business. 2015 saw a record number of small businesses operating in the UK – 5.2 million in total. There’s nothing quite like the freedom of owning your own business, but it’s not easy when you’re just getting started. A lot of new business owners struggle in the beginning, as there’s so much paperwork and research required.

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EPA Issues Significant Revisions to Underground Storage Tank Regulation

Green Building Law Update

EPA has issued significant revisions to the existing 1988 underground storage tank regulation that will impact most, if not all, businesses with USTs. EPA regulates over 571,000 USTs, down from a high of 2.1 million USTs in 1984. As of January 1, 2015, more than 525,000 UST releases (e.g., leaks) had been reported since 1988, many contaminating soil and drinking water.

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The Ultimate Procurement Software Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the right procurement software is a crucial step in ensuring third-party risk management, process governance, and bidding efficiency. With so many procurement solutions to choose from, it can be overwhelming without a frame of reference and a solid starting point. This free buyer’s guide will cover: Benefits of Procurement Software –– Why do you need it?

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Fatal falls up significantly in 2014

FDR Safety

While the overall rate of fatal workplace accidents remained steady in 2014 compared with the year before, there was a significant increase in fatalities caused by falls, slips and trips, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Fatal falls were up 9% in 2014, according to preliminary estimates from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries conducted by the Bureau.

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Waste firm stands by Hyundai

Digger Blog

There's a waste firm in Derbyshire that will buy nothing but Hyundai equipment and has recently added a new loader and a new excavator. There's a waste firm in Derbyshire that will buy nothing but Hyundai equipment and has recently added a new loader and a new excavator.

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Fall Protection Tops OSHA’s Most Frequent Safety Violations List

Construction Equipment

Fall Protection ranked No.1 on OSHA’s preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for fiscal year 2015. Top 10 Most Cited Safety Violations for FY 2015*: 1. Fall Protection (1926.501) – 6,721. 2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) – 5,192. 3. Scaffolding (1926.451) – 4,295. 4. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) – 3,305. 5.

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4 Ways to Benefit from Apps

Construction Business Owner

With the tap of a finger, construction business managers use mobile applications to maintain their businesses. Mobile applications can play a large role in the construction and maintenance industries, eliminating time-consuming paper processes and improving workflow and efficiency. A mobile platform can smoothly integrate into a company's technology infrastructure and adapt as processes evolve.

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Stop Making These Mistakes and Start Scaling Your Specialty Contractor Business

Anything that is built on a poor foundation will soon crumble from the ground up. This is literally the case in the construction stage of projects and it applies just the same during the pre-construction stage. This free eBook is your ultimate guide to scaling your business with customizable software as early as during the bidding stage.

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Is your marketing good enough (and when do you decide to aim for the best)?

Construction Marketing Ideas

At the Construction News and Report Group planning meeting: From left — Tim Lawlor, Katherine Jeffries (sitting), Brooke McDonald, Raymond Levielle, Chase, Mark Buckshon and Heather Kirk. If there is any aspect of an annual planning meeting process that gives me frustration, it is this: The group comes up with a wish list of changes to really improve the business.

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EPA Issues Significant Revisions to Underground Storage Tank Regulation

Green Building Law Update

EPA has issued significant revisions to the existing 1988 underground storage tank regulation that will impact most, if not all, businesses with USTs. EPA regulates over 571,000 USTs, down from a high of 2.1 million USTs in 1984. As of January 1, 2015, more than 525,000 UST releases (e.g., leaks) had been reported since 1988, many contaminating soil and drinking water.

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Keep an eye on OSHA after big NLRB joint employer ruling

FDR Safety

While the recent joint employer ruling by the National Labor Relations Board does not directly impact other employment laws, such as the OSH Act, it does highlight a growing movement by OSHA to hold companies responsible for the health and safety of workers supplied by staffing agencies – which can have significant consequences for employers. In an excellent article, Rod Smith, Pat Miller and Matt Morrison of the Sherman Howard law firm explain the ruling, its relationship to OSHA, and steps emp

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Five Unique Bookkeeping Tips For New Contractor Startups

Contractor Bookkeeping

You went into business for yourself for a variety of reasons and in most cases you thought all you had to do was get good jobs, do the work and you would make a lot of money. In a very short while you got a rude wake-up-call and your reality check bounced. You found out getting the jobs and doing the work was only a small part of being a contractor.

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The Specialty Contractor's Guide to Job Cost Accounting

Supply chain challenges and rising material costs are forcing specialty contractors to pay more for what they need to complete each job. Following a simple set of principles, this easy-to-follow guide can help you manage job costs, ease the pains of accounting, and run a more profitable businesses. If you are a Specialty Contractor or Self-performing GC, you do not want to miss out on this essential guide!

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Gradall Debuts New Options for Railway Maintenance Machines

Construction Equipment

Gradall Industries introduced a collection of new options for its Railway Maintenance Machines -- capable of handling a range of maintenance and construction jobs for railroads, municipal railways, city transit systems and others involved in rail construction, repair and right-of-way work.

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How to Accomplish More with Less

Construction Business Owner

Many times, construction businesses need help selecting and implementing accounting software when outdated or basic accounting software is no longer the best solution for their business. Technology should allow you to accomplish more with less. During the down economy, many businesses put technology investments or upgrades on hold, but are now ready to consider purchasing construction accounting software to operate more effectively and efficiently.

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The annual planning/sales meeting: How does it work for you?

Construction Marketing Ideas

An image from an earlier annual planning meting. Today, we begin our two-day annual planning/budgeting and sales meetings. We’ve held these meetings every year since the middle of an existential business crisis in 2005/6. The goals: Set out the next year’s direction, establish budget parameters and goals, and reconnect key staff and contractors, who work remotely and rarely see each other in person.

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Utility Incentives Tied to LEED are Growing Geometrically

Green Building Law Update

Last week Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company announced rebates from $2,000 to $10,000 tied to achieving certain LEED credits. Electric utility based incentives that support energy efficiency, including LEED certification, are increasing in number across the U.S. at all but geometric rates, while at the same time new government incentives have stalled. .

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Report: Optimism for Construction Growth in the Next Year Remains High

Research reveals 96% of respondents are very or fairly optimistic about their organization’s growth prospects for the next year. The InEight Global Capital Projects Outlook also finds over half see digital technology as the greatest growth opportunity. But these are only some of the findings. Don't be kept in the dark when it comes to the future. Read the report today!

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Drones Build a Rope Bridge

Construction Dive

While we don’t foresee rope bridges as the wave of the future, there are a number of practical applications for a drone to assist in construction. Spanning a canyon, a pair of piers, or any other inaccessible points, a drone flying the lead end of a rope that will later be used to pull heavier cables. Where the piers are accessible, getting a rope across is a simple matter by merely carrying it atop both endpoints.

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Caterpillar tug-o-war challenge

Digger Blog

Here’s latest of Caterpillar’s ‘Built for It’ trials in which Europe's reigning Strongest Man, Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson hams it up for game of tug-o-war against a Cat D10T tractor in Iceland. Here’s latest of Caterpillar’s ‘Built for It’ trials in which Europe's reigning Strongest Man, Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson hams it up for game of tug-o-war against a Cat D10T tractor in Iceland.

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GM & Navistar Reach Commercial Vehicle Agreement

Construction Equipment

General Motors Co. and Navistar reached a long-term agreement to develop and assemble future medium duty, conventional cab Class 4/5 commercial vehicles. The future products will be jointly developed using Navistar rolling chassis configurations and manufacturing capabilities, and GM’s commercial components and engines. The vehicles are slated for production in 2018 and will be manufactured at Navistar’s facility in Springfield, Ohio.

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Accomplish More with Less

Construction Business Owner

Many times, construction businesses need help selecting and implementing accounting software when outdated or basic accounting software is no longer the best solution for their business. Technology should allow you to accomplish more with less. During the down economy, many businesses put technology investments or upgrades on hold, but are now ready to consider purchasing construction accounting software to operate more effectively and efficiently.

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Discover 7 Ways to Cut Construction Inefficiencies

Construction sites are often just-barely-controlled chaos. Without clear coordination, you risk everything from clashes to delays, cancellations, and missed deadlines. Get the free eBook & learn how to solve the biggest challenges in construction!

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Customer attribution: Goals, tracking, measuring, testing — How do you score?

Construction Marketing Ideas

Will you implement the ideas in this White Paper. Probably not. That’s unfortunate, because if you do, you’ll probably achieve a competitive advantage. I have to admit, that while the thoughts in this white paper: The Step By Step Guide to Building Your Custom Attribution Model , make lots of sense, it is easier to say “do this” than to actually implement the strategy.

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Utility Incentives Tied to LEED are Growing Geometrically

Green Building Law Update

Last week Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company announced rebates from $2,000 to $10,000 tied to achieving certain LEED credits. Electric utility based incentives that support energy efficiency, including LEED certification, are increasing in number across the U.S. at all but geometric rates, while at the same time new government incentives have stalled.

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Construction Blog Highlights

Construction Dive

This week's blog highlights from across the industry looks at:Social media in construction - useful tools and dataConstructorator library plus four tips to advance your careerImmigration downturn and construction-worker shortageCivilBlog covers a lot of ground, plus two articles on brick and masonry Read more.