Struck-by hazards are one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in the construction industry. The frequency and fatality rate for this type of injury has earned it a place on OSHA’s “Fatal Four” list of most deadly hazards in the industry, along with falls, electrocutions, and being caught in or between hazards. Struck-bys are the second leading type of fatalities on job sites. Most struck-by injuries are caused by one or more of the “Big Bad Four: flying, falling, swinging, and rolling: 1. Struck-by flying objects – includes anything being thrown, hurled, or propelled across space and ..read more

Safety is everyone’s job in and around the workplace. With falls accounting for nearly 40% of all construction deaths, preventing this hazard on the job site requires a team effort by both employers and workers. Everyone working on a construction jobsite has a responsibility to themselves and their co-workers to follow all safety protocols related to fall prevention. Protecting Against Fall Hazards Is Everyone’s Job Workers should be trained and encouraged to monitor the job site for potential fall hazards constantly. This would include recognizing and avoiding areas where fall protection syst ..read more

It’s no secret that the construction industry is plagued with the problem of labor shortages. A 2020 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) found that 81% of construction firms have trouble filling both salaried and hourly craft positions, and 72% anticipate labor shortages to be the biggest hurdle in the next year. The advent of COVID-19 has only exacerbated the situation over the last sixteen months, impacting workforce availability due to illness and the furlough of key skilled employees. Internships – A Way to Address Labor Shortages Head-On The labor shortage is an ..read more

There is no secret that construction material prices have surged during the pandemic. As COVID-19 spread around the globe, quarantines forced factories and ports to reduce operations as employees became sick or were furloughed. Reduced production quickly crimped the worldwide supply chain, leading to a sharp rise in prices over the last 12 months for common materials like drywall, steel, concrete, copper and brass, and lumber and plywood. To Build or Not to Build? For commercial property developers, the material shortages and spiraling prices have some questioning the wisdom of even entering i ..read more

2020 proved to be an extremely volatile year for the construction industry. As the pandemic settled in across the country, few firms remained unscathed from its effects. Many projects were delayed or canceled, resulting in companies laying off or furloughing office personnel and craftspeople. Still, the construction industry demonstrated resilience. Companies quickly adjusted to the new protocols around personal protective equipment, daily health screenings and adopted physical distancing guidelines on the job site to protect workers and the public. As new projects began to move forward, contr ..read more

There’s an old Irish blessing: “May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.” Sad to say, in commercial construction, the only winds blowing for the last 12 months have been headwinds. Since the pandemic hit the U.S., our industry has experienced COVID-19-related shutdowns, layoffs, and increased construction costs. Even as we experience a third wave of the pandemic’s intensity, there is hope that the rollout of vaccines will mitigate adverse conditions by late Q3 2021, allowing for a return to a more “normal” operation. Still, the question on every developer’s mind is ..read more

Many of us are spending a lot more time indoors than we realize. According to an EPA report, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors.” This is especially true in urban areas. Technology is steadily providing more ways to stay connected and productive without leaving our desks to venture outdoors. For office buildings, this increased immobility by hundreds (or thousands) of occupants is raising new concerns regarding the overall workplace environment's healthiness. The advent of a worldwide pandemic has only heightened concerns about renovating existing buil ..read more

Reflecting on the last twelve months, we believe most of us would agree...2020 was a year we may wish to forget but which will not be forgotten. As the coronavirus spread around the world, its effect was quickly felt by individuals and industries alike. On a personal level, we had to change our behavior to include physical distancing, wearing masks, and handwashing with fanaticism on a level Mom had never required. Businesses juggled the need to keep employees and customers safe while maintaining some semblance of normal operation. Particularly hard-hit were the transportation, retail, and tra ..read more

Success in commercial development has always been largely dependent on recognizing changing demand and seizing the opportunity accordingly. Renowned management consultant Peter Drucker said it best...“The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.” Where office space is concerned, the current pandemic has presented uncertainties. Where will demand be over the next few years? Will businesses need more office space to accommodate closed offices as opposed to open floor plans? Or will there be more work-from-home and flexible workspace, resulting i ..read more

Many thoughts may run through our minds on our way to an interview. A potential job that you have been working towards for months. An interview will be what stands between you and your next job. In the construction industry, we should always strive to be our best selves and gain experience daily. People wonder how they may stand out in an interview to land that dream job. Created from interviewing hundreds of construction professional, positions ranging from assistant project managers to construction executives, here are five tips to help you stand out in your next interview: 1. Be 10 minutes ..read more