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On April 18, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued its final rule to better protect miners against occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The final rule will not only cover contractors who operate surface mines, but also any contractor who performs construction or maintenance activities at a mine site. After the publication of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final rule addressing exposure to crystalline silica, many surface mine operators established programs that incorporated the OSHA requirements.

Help Us Generate a Comprehensive Outlook for 2024 by Taking the Survey Each year around this time, 91��Ƭ�� asks you – our members – to predict what next year will be like for your business. 91��Ƭ�� has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey here. 91��Ƭ�� of America will use the survey results to help make the case with elected and appointed officials in support of key member priorities. The more people who complete the survey by Thursday, December 7, the more effective the results will be in supporting our work on your behalf.

Help Us Generate a Comprehensive Outlook for 2022 by Taking the Survey Today

Apply by Wednesday, October 20, 2021!

On Sept. 7, 91��Ƭ�� held a comprehensive webinar detailing not only the requirements of the U.S. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) respirable crystalline silica standard for the construction industry, but also the perspective of and testimonials from prime and specialty contractors implementing the regulation. Construction industry safety professionals from 91��Ƭ�� member firms Haselden Construction—a vertical building general contractor—Kokosing Construction Company—a heavy highway and industrial general contractor—and Faith Technologies—an electrical specialty contractor—discussed how they are dealing with the real world impacts of carrying out this standard on a wide variety of construction jobs.

Need a vendor? Reach thousands of suppliers and service providers in one place: 91��Ƭ��'s official purchasing directory, Constructor Marketplace. This site places you in contact with vendors from more than 50 categories -- everything from acoustical and drywall to windows -- quickly, so you can get the materials or the help you need to get the job done right. Use Constructor Marketplace's free Request for Proposal (RFP) Automator to request custom project bids from multiple Marketplace vendors with just a few clicks.

Thursday, Jan. 19 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 PM ET Register today for this 2017 regulatory overview webinar—helpful for all construction contractors with public or private work. It is complimentary for 91��Ƭ�� members and $49 for non-members. Can’t make the webinar, but want to know more now? Click here for 91��Ƭ��’s Regulatory Road Ahead document covering major rules and issues between now and Inauguration Day. In addition, click here for 91��Ƭ��’s “Make Federal Agencies Great Again” document, detailing the association’s regulatory, compliance and enforcement plan for the Trump administration.

91��Ƭ�� members have every reason to believe they are constantly being threatened by a barrage of new regulatory initiatives. 91��Ƭ�� is following more than 20 major rulemakings that impact the industry right now such as the “Waters of the US” proposed rule, the silica rule, the “ambush” election rule, the overtime rule (see next story for an update on 91��Ƭ��’s efforts), and the “blacklisting” rule to name a few. Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released its annual survey of the size, scope, and cost of federal regulations, and how they affect American consumers, businesses, and the U.S. economy.

<p>Court officials announced late last week that an 91��Ƭ�� of America-backed lawsuit to block the Obama Administration’s misguided new silica rule will be heard in the D.C. Circuit Court.  91��Ƭ��, via the Louisiana 91��Ƭ��, filed suit in the 5th Circuit earlier this month to block the measure, arguing that the Administration established a new standard that is beyond the technological limits of current dust removal equipment. As a number of other groups filed similar motions in other circuit courts, judicial officials were forced to select a venue via random lottery.  While the DC Circuit is considered less favorable than the 5th Circuit, some of the circuit’s prior case law does appear favorable.</p>

91��Ƭ�� recently launched ConstructorCast, a new monthly podcast that explores in depth issues affecting the construction industry.