The Blog

    Associated Builders and Contractors has unveiled its 2022 Safety Performance Report, an annual, comprehensive study of the impact of the STEP Safety Management System and guide to safety best practices on construction jobsites. STEP is a proven system, more than 30 years old, that enables top-performing members to achieve incident rates 645% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average.  The annual study was published to coincide with Construction Safety Week, which was last week. “World-class safety and total human health are integral parts of the culture of ABC STEP members’ companies—and it shows,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “STEP is a crucial ‘step’ any company can take to be safer. STEP Diamond members are more than six times safer than the industry average, achieving an 84% reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rates. AB ...

  Thirty two of the best Massachusetts vocational school students in carpentry, electrical, masonry and plumbing competed in a two-day competition to build a small structure as a team. The event was held at Blackstone Valley Technical school in Upton, Massachusetts on April 28th and 29th, with ABC members serving as judges.   “A special thank you to our member companies for offering up their employees to judge the competition.” Said Greg Beeman, President and CEO of ABCMA. “Taking members of your leadership team out of the workplace to judge a high school level competition is certainly not inexpensive. We truly appreciate their support.”   Teams from Bay Path Regional Technical High School (2), Diman Regional Technical High School, Greater Lowell Regional Technical High School, Shawsheen Regional Technical High School (2) Upper Cape Regional Technical High School and Whittier Regional Technical High School competed and the winning team will compete at the ...

  TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 1:40 PM Posted in Policy, Politics and Policy, News Release 2022   This news release was updated on April 28 to reflect additional governors signing on to the letter.   WASHINGTON, April 26—Associated Builders and Contractors today applauded a letter sent to President Joe Biden by 18 Republican governors, led by Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Bill Lee of Tennessee, opposing the Biden administration’s policies promoting government-mandated project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. “As governors, we support policies that ensure robust competition for taxpayer-funded construction projects that welcome all of America’s construction industry to compete to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure on an even playing field,” the governors wrote. “We oppose Executive Order 14063 requiring controversial government-mandated project labor agreements on federal [… ...

  By: J. Nathan Cole, Esq.    If you own a construction business, a Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy is a crucial part of protecting your business from various losses. Generally, a CGL policy provides a business with insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused by the business’s operations, products, or injuries that occur on its premises. While a CGL policy’s name implies that it provides very broad (or “general”) coverage, it does not cover all risks a business may face. Often, particularly when written with an “Excess” or “Surplus Lines” insurer, a CGL policy can potentially include significant and surprising exclusions and coverage limitations. These exclusions can be based on specific types of projects, products, or services; acts committed by certain individuals; and may limit your CGL based on geographic considerations.   The Policy Giveth: Start with the Insuring Agreement While ...

  Negotiations With House Loom as Next Challenge   Reporting by Chris Lisinski of State House News Service and ABC MA APRIL 14, 2022.....Senators took a major step Thursday toward achieving the net-zero emissions target they already set for Massachusetts by approving a policy-heavy bill aimed at expanding the clean energy industry and reining in emissions from the transportation and building sectors.  ABC MA was keenly focused on an amendment seeking to mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on $ billion in home energy efficiency work, and we are pleased to report that amendment was defeated.  A much narrower amendment to increase offshore wind capacity does include pro-PLA language but is short of a mandate.  An amendment seeking to mandate PLAs on wind projects was rejected.   “Overall it was a very good outcome in terms of keeping a major amount of energy efficiency work open to all contractors and workers and benefitting MA residents with ...

  Massachusetts law now mandates that employers must provide treble damages, attorneys' fees and court costs when discharged employees do not receive all wages owed, including accrued vacation, on the day of discharge. Resigning employees must receive full payment by the payroll period next following their resignation.   On April 4, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) found for a discharged employee who did not receive her accrued vacation pay of $8,952 until three weeks following a termination for larceny. One year later, suit was filed. Beth Reuter v. City of Methuen, SJC-13121. The Plaintiff was awarded treble damages (3x the vacation pay). Her attorneys are demanding $75,695 in fees and costs.   The SJC noted in its decision that in Massachusetts, the term "wages" includes oral or written commitments for paid holidays, vacations, or commissions. Therefore, if a suit is filed following discharge, all may be tripled. Because attorneys' fees often far ex ...

  WASHINGTON, April 6—Today, Associated Builders and Contractors sent the White House a letter with more than 1,200 signatures from member companies and chapters strongly opposing President Biden’s executive order mandating project labor agreements on federal public works projects exceeding $35 million. The letter lays out concerns with Executive Order 14063 and other policies promoting PLAs on federal and federally assisted construction projects, which would affect the allocation of funds under the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that was signed into law last year. “Your administration is taking a dangerously partisan approach that would defy congressional intent and affect the allocation of a significant portion of these funds,” said the letter. “ABC and our members are concerned this EO could limit the ultimate success of the bipartisan bill and the communities it is meant to benefit. “Recent government-mandated PLAs on fed ...

  (via ABC National)   Last week, Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention today announced a collaborative partnership to address mental health and suicide prevention throughout the U.S. construction industry.  ABC Massachusetts conducted a webinar with ASFP on the topic in October. The goals of the partnership are to improve the mental health of construction workers through effective suicide prevention education, intervention and postvention strategies; to encourage, equip and empower mental health champions in the workforce; and to introduce collaboration between ABC and AFSP chapters nationwide. “Safety includes total human health—emotional, social, mental, intellectual, financial, occupational and spiritual wellness—and we must continue to raise the bar for safety for the construction workforce of more than 7.5 million,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and ...

  (By Mike Maloney, Director of Apprenticeship, Gould Construction Institute)   Heading to San Antonio for his first ABC National Convention, I decided to chronicle my experience for others who have never gone.  It was marked by fun, learning, delicious food and great music.   One of the highlights was clearly the Craft Championships, where the competitors showcased their talents against tradespeople from around the country.  I watched the competitors hard at work, looking sharp in their t-shirts, and also stopped and talked to judges of the plumbing, sprinklerfitting and team competitions.  Among the plumbing competition judges was GCI board member Gary Gauthier.  It was certainly a thrill when Nathan Gallagher of Notch Mechanical Constructors took home the Silver Medal in pipe welding and Caio Torres of Medford Wellington Service Company won Bronze in the sheet metal team competition.   The opening night celebration included an ...

  By: Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq. On February 28, 2022, the Commonwealth announced that required employer-provided leave under An Act Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave will end, effective March 15, 2022. Until then, employers must continue to provide paid sick leave (up to $850 per week) to eligible employees for qualifying reasons relating to COVID-19. For leaves taken between May 28, 2021 and March 15, 2022, employers may continue to seek reimbursement, and applications for reimbursement must be submitted by April 29, 2022. Qualifying reasons for leave include: An employee’s need to: Self-isolate and care for oneself because of the employee’s COVID-19 diagnosis; Get a medical diagnosis, care, or treatment for COVID-19 symptoms; or Get or recover from a COVID-19 vaccine. An employee’s need to care for a family member who: Is self-isolating due to a COVID-19 diagnosis; Needs a medical di ...