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Don't Miss Out - Register for GCI/ABC Safety & Education Night Seminars

4/23/2019

On Thursday, May 16th, GCI and ABC will hold our annual Safety & Education Night at the Boston Burlington Marriot to honor member companies who have achieved excellence through ABC’s Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP).

But did you know there are critical educational seminars before the celebration even begins? And this year, we are offering TWO different seminars to choose from, with both beginning at 4:00 PM, followed by an exciting night celebrating the STEP Award Winners, and more!

Don't miss out on the important information these seminars will provide!

Safety & Education Night Schedule

Seminars Begin
4:00PM

Cocktail Reception
5:00PM

Dinner & Award Presentations
6:00PM

For event inquiries please contact Allison Jackson at allison@gwgci.org or 781-270-9990

Seminar Options

Option 1: Annual OSHA Update
Regulatory Statistics, Worker Shortages, Opioids, Hot Work and more!

Kimlee Lindgren, Lead Instructor and Curriculum Developer for Construction & Maritime, OSHA Training Institute Education Center, will present her annual seminar to update and summarize the current events at OSHA.

When: Thursday, May 16th
Time: 4:00 PM (before GCI/ABC Safety & Education Night)
Where: Boston Burlington Marriott

Learn More and Register

Option 2: Using Leading Lagging Indicators to Measure Safety Performance

Marc Bianco, Executive Vice President of United Alliance Services, will foster a discussion on how using leading and lagging indicators to measure safety performance can be an effective way to prevent workplace incidents.

This process involves measuring both your bottom-line safety results and how well your workplace is doing at accident and incident prevention. By controlling leading indicators, such as the amount of safety training or lessons you provide, you can help control your lagging indicators, such as your injury rate.

When: Thursday, May 16th
Time: 4:00 PM (before GCI/ABC Safety & Education Night)
Where: Boston Burlington Marriott

Learn More and Register

ABC Members Invest $1.6 Billion in Workforce Development Annually, New Survey Finds

4/22/2019

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Via ABC National) —According to the results of Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2019 Workforce Development Survey, ABC members invested $1.6 billion to educate their employees in 2018, up from $1.1 billion in 2013. The 45% increase in spending resulted in nearly twice as many course attendees—more than 980,000—receiving craft, leadership and safety education to advance their careers in commercial and industrial construction.

“The increase in spending on education demonstrates ABC member contractors’ commitment to developing employees, which is producing results in recruiting and retaining a skilled, safe and productive workforce,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, education and workforce development. “With more than 90% of members reporting a worker shortage and construction spending at near-record highs, this is the time to invest in our people, expand career opportunities and secure the workforce of the future.”

Kaplan Construction Announces Completion of Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline

4/22/2019

BOSTON - Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs across Greater Boston, recently announced the completion of the addition, restoration and renovation of the historic Congregation Kehillath Israel (KI) in Brookline, Mass. Congregation KI began as a small collective in 1911 and was granted a Charter by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1917. In celebration of its centennial year in 2017, the synagogue dedicated itself to creating a multi-generational, inclusive center for Jewish learning and worship. Over the course of 10 years, Kaplan provided pre-construction and construction management services for the extensive project, which included the reconstruction of two existing buildings, along with a 10,000 SF addition to the property. The synagogue now hosts a brand-new sanctuary, social hall, offices, pre-school, and a dedicated space for Congregation Mishkan Tefila, who has co-located with KI on their Brookline campus.

NEI General Contracting Wraps Up Walker Park Apartments

4/22/2019

Walker Park Apartments in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston

BOSTON – NEI General Contracting, an award-winning general contractor and construction management firm, recently announced the completion of Walker Park Apartments in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston for Urban Edge, a national leader in the community development field. This is NEI’s sixth project for Urban Edge and creates 49 units of affordable housing. The two-building apartment complex is named for Delphine Walker, founder of “Hands Around Egleston”, who was a tireless activist for the neighborhood and its children.

Located on three blighted, vacant urban infill sites surrounded by an otherwise active community, NEI handled the demolition and removal of existing structures before erecting two four-story buildings. Adjacent to a public library and public playground in a transit-rich community, 67 Walker Park has 32 units and 80 Walker Park has 17 units. Both apartment buildings have units ranging from one bedroom to three bedrooms.

RPF Environmental, Inc. Receives DCAMM Certification

4/22/2019

Amesbury, MA, April 12, 2019: RPF Environmental, Inc., an environmental health and safety (EH&S) consulting and testing firm, recently received certification through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for work with Massachusetts public agencies. Services include environmental health and safety (EH&S) testing and consulting for construction, reconstruction, demolition, maintenance, or repair projects.

DCAMM is responsible for capital planning, public building construction, facilities management, and real estate services throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The agency oversees the Commonwealth’s capital assets, totaling over 65 million square feet, and it manages over $2 billion in projects. DCAMM works with state agencies on the full cycle of their strategic facility needs.

JM Coull Wins Second Consecutive ABC National Safety Excellence Pinnacle Award

4/22/2019

JM Coull President Andy Coull accepts the 2018 ABC National Safety Excellence Pinnacle Award

Maynard, MA – JM Coull (JMC) was recently awarded the 2018 Pinnacle Safety Award, which is the highest level attainable under ABC’s national safety recognition program. In order to qualify for this honor, firms must have achieved a 2018 ABC Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Award at the Diamond, Platinum, or Gold level. JMC was qualified at the Diamond level (the firm has achieved Diamond status every year for the last eight years). Firms were honored during ABC’s Workforce Week 2018 in Long Beach, CA.

Workforce Notification Requirements - Paid Family and Medical Leave

4/22/2019

The Department of Family and Medical Leave has posted the notice required to be provided by employers and covered business entities to their current workforce of PFML benefits, contribution rates, and other provisions as outlined in M.G.L. c. 175M sec. 4 on or before May 31, 2019.

The notice, which may be provided electronically, must include the opportunity for an employee or self-employed individual to acknowledge receipt or decline to acknowledge receipt of the information. The notice has been posted in six languages.

Workforce Notification Requirements

List of All Downloads

DEADLINE EXTENDED - ABC MA Building Our Future Scholarship Applications

4/15/2019

Applications Now Due April 26, 2019

We are pleased to announce that applications for ABC MA's new Building Our Future Scholarship are now available. The Building Our Future Scholarship was established by the ABC MA Board of Directors to develop future talent for the construction industry. The scholarship is open to any student who meets one (or more) of the following criteria:

Accepted into or currently enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program in construction
Enrolled in a formal construction training program from a licensed provider
Registered in a state or federally approved apprenticeship program in the construction industry

At the discretion of the Board of Building Our Future Scholarship Fund, students pursuing other fields of post-secondary education related to construction may also be eligible.

Applicants should have at least one full year remaining in school subsequent to the scholarship application deadline.

Applications for 2019 are due on April 26

Change to Massachusetts Elevator Regulations Regarding Canceling Scheduled Inspections & Acceptance Test Re-Inspection Fees

4/8/2019

Per the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections, Please note the following change to Massachusetts Elevator Regulations regarding canceling scheduled inspections, and change to OPSI Policy regarding fees for acceptance test re-inspections.

Per 524 CMR 1.10 (4) Effective June 1, 2018: Inspections canceled by the owner or contractor within ten days of the scheduled inspection will result in forfeiture of all fees and a requirement to refile for said inspection.

This applies to all types of inspections. If an inspection is canceled within ten days of the scheduled date you will be required to re-submit application and payment in order to have the elevator re-scheduled.

Due to the large number of elevators requiring re-inspections for acceptance tests the department will charge a $400 fee for all acceptance test re-inspections. Effective May 1, 2019 a $400 fee will be required for each re-inspection needed to pass an acceptance test.

Prior to May 1, 2019 the department did not charge for the 1st re-inspection if required. Please make sure to pre-inspect your elevators prior to submitting a request for inspection, so that a re-inspection is not necessary.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Update

4/8/2019

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development recently released the second draft regulations for Paid Family and Medical Leave. In May, two additional public hearings will be held in anticipation of final regulations being released prior to the July 1st, 2019 deadline requiring deductions from wages in order to fund quarterly contributions to the Department of Family and Medical Leave.

The Department of Family and Medical Leave has provided an number of resources for employers and workers in anticipation of the regulations becoming effective:

Second Draft Regulations

A Guide to Paid Family and Medical Leave for Employers

How to Calculate Contributions

A Guide to Paid Family and Medical Leave for Workers

Paid Family and Medical Leave Employer Poster