How to Create an OSHA-Compliant Safety Program

How to Create an OSHA-Compliant Safety Program

Regardless of the type of construction you perform, OSHA essentially requires that a safety program be developed and taught to any employee or crew member. Having a safety program written for and taught to employees should be standard practice for commercial contractors. Unfortunately, not having a safety program that is compliant with OSHA standards in…

Subcontractors:  Three Industry Trends and Impacts on Obtaining Permits in 2019

Subcontractors: Three Industry Trends and Impacts on Obtaining Permits in 2019

On December 3, 2018, I attended the first annual Asian | Turkish | Indo-American Chambers of Commerce Real Estate and Construction Summit in Houston, Texas.  There were three industry panels that provided a treasure trove of industry insights and data along with two powerful keynote speakers including State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Glenn…

M&M Liens: A Critical Safety Net in Construction Law

M&M Liens: A Critical Safety Net in Construction Law

The mechanic’s and materialmen’s lien, more commonly known as the M&M lien, protects contractors and subcontractors in the event of a dispute regarding labor or services performed. An M&M lien is a way to recoup loss of payment by attaching a lien to a property, making it more difficult to sell or forcing a foreclosure…

Construction Personal Protective Equipment for the Female Workforce

Construction Personal Protective Equipment for the Female Workforce

In 2015, women accounted for only 2.2% of production occupations in construction, which is one-sixth the level of “all other industries.” One of the challenges facing women in the construction industry is finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. This is a serious issue because PPE that does not fit properly will not adequately protect…

Fighting the Fatal Four: OSHA-Based Solutions to Construction’s Deadliest Hazards

Fighting the Fatal Four: OSHA-Based Solutions to Construction’s Deadliest Hazards

At first glance, the concept of the “fatal four” may sound like a scare tactic implemented by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to keep construction workers on their toes. However, these four hazards accounted for nearly 64% of construction worker deaths in 2016. OSHA has even determined that eliminating the risks of the…

Five Secrets Revealed on How a Good Offense Helps to Obtain a Building Permit Fast

With hundreds of billions of dollars and many more construction opportunities on the horizon for contractors, some jurisdictions are scrambling to handle the work load for plan reviews to issue building permits.  And with recent hurricane-impacted areas along the Florida Gulf Coast and in the Carolinas, jurisdictions will become even more stretched. For contractors with…

New Regulations for the City of Houston Effective September 1

New Regulations for the City of Houston Effective September 1

In an attempt to take action following Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston has taken an aggressive, accelerated and largely emotional response by adopting onerous building and drainage regulation changes that went into effect on September 1. In April, city council passed revisions to Chapter 19, the City’s Floodplain Ordinance, which dramatically increase regulations on…

FIVE SIMPLE TIPS DRIVE HIGHWAY TO PERMITTING SUCCESS

By: Helen Callier I’ve met a few people this year that have struggled in one way or another in obtaining the necessary permits on highway construction projects.  From forgetting to fully assess site conditions for Rock Quarry to having modular trailers that lacked State seal of approval to getting started later than planned with environmental…

FIVE WAYS TO GET YOUR BUILDING PERMIT FASTER

FIVE WAYS TO GET YOUR BUILDING PERMIT FASTER

Looking to get started with your construction project on time?  The building permitting tips and insights below from Helen Callier, Permit Us Now, Contributing Writer will assist you in positioning for success. Know the Jurisdiction Time is Key Stay Notified Bank on Changes Avoid Horror Story Suspense Hurts Start Early Procrastination Costs Use Smart Resources…