What we can do about the skilled trades gap in the industry.
By Todd Sachse and Steve Berlage
Skilled labor is the lifeblood of the construction industry. From carpenters to plumbers, those who have mastered a trade and honed a specialized skill set are a critically important piece of the construction puzzle. Unfortunately, structural economic issues – in conjunction with societal shifts and evolving perceptions with respect to the desirability of a career as a construction laborer – have contributed to a shortage of these skilled professionals. That shortage has been building for years, and what has been a frustrating inconvenience is quickly becoming a serious issue facing the industry.
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A safety manager shares what he has learned on the job.
By Charlie Crofford
I’ll be the first to admit it. I’ve been lucky. Twice in my career spanning nearly 40 years, I have been called on to a jobsite the day after someone has lost his or her life. I have seen people fall, structures collapse and powerful tools malfunction. I was around during a time when the letters O-S-H-A didn’t carry a whole lot of weight as the organization was in its infancy.
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Document retention policies can be inconsistent with recommendations.
By Jason E. Handin, Esq.
Construction defect lawsuits are typically won or lost on two factors: Testimony of expert witnesses and the existence of project documents – the most important factor. Without project documentation, expert witnesses have their hands tied as far as what information can be used as the basis to form their opinions. An absence of documents results in a lack of factual foundation on which the experts’ opinions can be formed, which ultimately leads to a Frye/Daubert challenge and potentially to the experts’ opinions being stricken, delivering a fatal blow to that party’s case.
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By Moussadak Mezouaghi
Imagine taking a quick scan of your project and, by comparing to last year's scan, detecting slight shifts in a foundation that can be repaired before they become a problem. Also imagine running alongside a 100-mile-long gas pipeline and sniffing out even the slightest of leaks, all within a single day; or peering into a tower from every angle, then repeating the examinations from precisely the same vantage points on a regular schedule – automatically detecting when a single cotter pin slips or a metal support bends out of shape.
Such thoughts represent ongoing and future applications of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in commercial applications. The systems offer particularly bright prospects for improved speed, safety and documentation on design and construction projects, as they help streamline multiple workflows and reduce costs for mapping, monitoring, analysis and data gathering.
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By Jindou Lee
Worker safety is one of the most important objectives for any construction company – and the failure to make it a top priority can have catastrophic consequences. Construction managers and executives are always looking for new ways to make sure their employees and contractors stay safe when they are on the job, but unfortunately, there is no cure-all that will ensure that accidents will be reduced or eliminated. Or is there?
Recently, I read “The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals,” by Sean Covey, Chris McChesney and Jim Huling, which has significantly influenced my thinking on a number of topics. The book is especially relevant to reducing accidents, injuries, and deaths in the construction industry. This isn’t just some theoretical approach construction companies are already implementing processes based on this book to monitor their sites and create successful outcomes. Let’s look at how each of the book’s 4 disciplines of execution, or 4DX principles, applies to worker safety.
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The Commercial UAV Expo looked at how drones can make a difference.
By Jeremiah Karpowicz
The many ways in which drones can impact a construction project have been detailed and documented over the past few years. Whether we’re talking about how drones can be used to gather more frequent and accurate stockpile measurements or what kind of efficiencies they can create for project managers, it’s clear the technology can and is making an impact in the industry.
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By Amanda Johnson
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a familiar construction method in Europe, but is just beginning to hit its stride in the United States, making its way into new buildings and combining a much sought-after sleek, clean and modern vibe with the authentic, warm character of wood. While it previously would have been unheard of for wood to replace steel and concrete as a structural element in larger buildings, CLT is changing everything. Here's what you need to know about it, why you should be using it, and on-the-ground tips for success.
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By Todd Andrew
In August, three leading organizations – the American Institute of Architects, National Association of Home Builders and Associated Builders and Contractors – published their mid-year construction economic forecast.
For those of us who are general contractors specializing in commercial projects, the report will probably conjure up some memories.
According to a summary of the forecast in Architect magazine, “Commercial spending, which includes sub-categories such as retail, is projected to increase by just 6.5 percent from 2016 to 2017– roughly half of the prior year’s gains and anticipated due to the projected slowdown in office construction in the next year.”
Twenty years ago, market conditions were quite similar: relatively strong but projected to weaken in key areas. Like today, America in 1996 was about five years into recovering from a recession – granted, nowhere as bad as the most recent.
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