Number Women in Construction Hits an All-Time High hsauer Wed, 11/30/2022 - 11:47 Nov 15, 2022 Number Women in Construction Hits an All-Time High With inclusion becoming increasingly important to consumers, companies have made an effort to recruit a more diverse workforce. The construction industry is making strides as there are now more women working in U.S. construction than ever before. In August 2022, the number of women construction workers reached an all-time high of 14% of the entire industry. A November 2022 analysis by The Washington Post says that the number of women employed as co ..read more

Increased Use of Robots for Warehouse Automation and More cbeaty Tue, 11/29/2022 - 09:06 Nov 15, 2022 Increased Use of Robots for Warehouse Automation and More Research and development in the use of robotics in warehouse and industrial settings is gaining momentum, fueling impressive growth in the market sector. “Warehouse Robotics Market,” a June 2022 report from Future Market Insights (FMI), reveals that the global warehouse robotics market is projected to reach a value of more than $9.5 billion by 2032. In 2022, the market was on pace to exceed $5 billion, rising at a notable 13% compound ..read more

Aggressive Driving Impacts Electrical Contractor Fleets hsauer Mon, 11/28/2022 - 10:41 Nov 15, 2022 Aggressive Driving Impacts Electrical Contractor Fleets Aggressive driving—a term coined in the 1990s—consists of several potentially dangerous behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes without signaling and running red lights and stop signs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) further defines aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” The N ..read more

Lower Income Households Warming Up to Solar Power hsauer Tue, 11/22/2022 - 14:18 Nov 15, 2022 Lower Income Households Warming Up to Solar Power Despite its growing popularity, solar power remains a luxury that, typically, only more affluent households can afford, due mostly to the high costs of installation. However, recent statistics show that the technology is not completely exclusive. A greater share of lower-income households and neighborhoods are having rooftop panels installed. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released the latest edition of its annual report, Residential Solar-Ad ..read more

Changes in Communications Technologies Affecting Final Acceptance by AHJs cbeaty Tue, 11/22/2022 - 10:27 Nov 15, 2022 Changes in Communications Technologies Affecting Final Acceptance by AHJs Every project comes with large responsibilities, and life safety fire alarm systems most often represent a small portion of the total quote for work in the building. It is most often the last system installed in the building, and the fire alarm system installation often gets overlooked in terms of technology changes and quality control. As stated in Section 901.6.3 of the 2018 International Building Cod ..read more

A Light Breeze Generates Electricity With New Invention hsauer Mon, 11/21/2022 - 14:08 Nov 15, 2022 A Light Breeze Generates Electricity With New Invention Harvesting wind energy is not new, but scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore designed a new device to harness and store it as electricity. This low-cost device, called a wind harvester, can transform energy from winds with a velocity as low as 2 meters per second (m/s). Announced in a September 2022 article in the scientific journal Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, the device is currently capable of produc ..read more

Mobile Light Tower Market Expected to Surpass $3.1 Billion by 2031 hsauer Thu, 11/17/2022 - 09:23 Nov 15, 2022 Mobile Light Tower Market Expected to Surpass $3.1 Billion by 2031 The global mobile light tower market, valued at $1.9 billion in 2021, is expected to reach a $3.1 billion valuation by 2031. A September 2022 report published by Allied Market Research details the causes and trends leading to the expected 5.2% compound annual growth rate from 2022 to 2031. An increase in infrastructure projects is the leading growth factor. Construction applications led the market growth, specificall ..read more

Data Analytics Is an Essential Step in Current Utility Operations hsauer Wed, 11/16/2022 - 09:47 Nov 15, 2022 Data Analytics Is an Essential Step in Current Utility Operations Virtually every industry is becoming increasingly data-driven to keep up with today’s fast-paced business landscape. Big data solutions are essential for modern companies, as they help streamline operations, boost productivity and meet the bottom line. The utility industry is undergoing a major overhaul in terms of digitization. Companies understand they must evolve in the era of big data, which involves adopting new t ..read more

Saving for Vocational School Through 529 Plans cbeaty Tue, 11/15/2022 - 15:39 Nov 15, 2022 Saving for Vocational School Through 529 Plans Skilled laborers are needed across the nation. The shortage has affected overall construction costs and the recovery from Hurricane Ian, among many other localized issues. Increasing the number of vocational school graduates and providing resources to fund these programs may be a long-term solution. A June 2022 assessment conducted by Indeed found that the average cost of trade school ranges from $3,674 to $15,923, which is more affordable than a tradition ..read more

Toolbox Talk: Floor Openings cbeaty Wed, 11/09/2022 - 10:54 Nov 15, 2022 Toolbox Talk: Floor Openings Objectives Upon completion of this safety talk, participants will be able to: Understand the risks associated with floor openings Be familiar with ways to secure an opening in a floor Floor openings are common at most job sites. Unprotected holes in floors, decks or roofs are responsible for many serious injuries. Through planning and attention, these kinds of injuries are easy to prevent. Some helpful starting points include: If you make a hole, guard it. Before a hole is even cut, b ..read more