May 2024 eBulletin

“Man up.”

We have all known someone or have been that someone that puts on a brave face and powers through. Let’s face it, the entire construction industry has a persona of being tough guys (and gals). We are proud of what we have withstood and the resilience that came out of it. But let’s be real, “Man up” has a cost, and it can be steep. For some, it’s losing a business, clients, employees, a spouse, family, happiness, connectedness, physical health, mental stability, and sadly sometimes even their life. At some point, we are no longer able to “pay” the cost, and it becomes a matter of survival.

The construction industry leads all other industries in both the percentage and the number of suicides. Construction workers are four times as likely to commit suicide as the general population. We spend inordinate amounts of time training for safety on job sites and driver safety on roads. And yet, very few companies train on mental health awareness and developing the tools needed to help ourselves and one another be safe from a mental health perspective.

AGCVA Members in the News

AGCVA members have been up to a lot in the last month!

We are thrilled to recognize these accomplishments and recognitions, and we encourage you to connect with your fellow members and extend your congratulations!

Please join us in celebrating the membership anniversaries of these longtime AGCVA members! 
Each month, we recognize those celebrating 50 or more years, 40 years, 25 years, 10 years, and 5 years of membership. 

We applaud each of you for your commitment to AGCVA. 

By virtue of your membership, you have made the AGCVA community stronger and have shown tremendous leadership and dedication to the industry. We are proud to serve each of you, and we thank you for your membership in AGCVA.

This event was packed with female leaders from across the country collaborating, elevating and innovating by talking about shared experiences and discussing the future of the construction industry.

A vast variety of topics were discussed, such as the future of generative AI, male allyship, diversity initiatives, boosting credentials and breaking barriers. 

Tech Innovations Redefining Sustainability in Construction

Sustainable buildings happen to be mostly cheaper to function in. By way of using less energy as well as water and also needing less maintenance as compared to traditional buildings.

Keeping in sync with sustainability practices goes on to help organizations comply with the regulations and, at the same time, decrease the risk that’s associated with the scarcity of resources as well as future-proof buildings against the changes found in environmental policies.

The construction sector’s transition towards sustainability is no trend but happens to be a fundamental change in how buildings get designed, constructed, and operated.
World Construction Today

On Earth Day, AGC of America provided a sneak peek of a new document, The AGC Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in the Construction Industry (Decarb Playbook), designed by contractors for contractors to help address greenhouse gas emissions for the projects they build. The final, published version and associated emissions calculator are now available for anyone to download from AGC of America’s website. 

American Arbitration Association (AAA®) Updates How Their Arbitration Rules are Utilized in ConsensusDocs Standard Contract Language

Effective March 1, 2024, AAA released its revised Construction Industry Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures. The updates were spearheaded by AAA’s National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee (NCDRC) to update its rules. They also gather input during nationwide roundtable discussions with advocates, in-house counsel, arbitrators, and other industry professionals. The most recent updates embrace technological advances and promote efficiency and clarity. Representative volunteers from AGC of America and ConsensusDocs are included in NCDRC. Significantly, ConsensusDocs explicitly embraces the most current AAA rules. Conversely, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) A201 attempt to utilize the AAA rules frozen in time at contract signing.  
AGC News

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

At the perimeter of any construction site, you will find large fences designed to keep construction materials in and danger out. But those aren’t the barriers that keep more people from joining the construction workforce.

Virginia Tech researchers say it’s the invisible barriers that need to be deconstructed. While many in both industry and academia tout best practices to recruit and retain a more diverse crew, Myers-Lawson School of Construction researchers have found the “perfect answer” doesn’t exist — yet.
Virginia Tech News

Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted Industries

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a major disruption in America’s labor force—something many have referred to as "The Great Resignation." In 2022, more than 50 million workers quit their jobs, following the 47.8 million who did so in 2021. In 2023, this trend gradually subsided, with 30.5 million workers resigning as of August.

A closer look at what has happened to the labor force can be better described as "The Great Reshuffle." While quit rates remain high, hiring rates continue to outpace them as many workers have been transitioning to other jobs in search of an improved work-life balance and flexibility, increased compensation, or a strong company culture.
US Chamber of Commerce

SAFETY

By now it’s pretty well known that the suicide rate in the construction industry is a tragic problem. We reported in Oct. 2023 that 5,000 people in this field commit suicide each year. That is more than five times more than the annual number of jobsite fatalities. 

The industry is aware of and is trying to address the issue in a number of ways. One is the upcoming Construction Suicide Prevent Week, being held Sept. 9-13, 2024.

Another way to address the issue is for a company to complete a H.O.P.E. Certification, which offers a path to psychological health and safety at work. The benefit of this process can be compared to what LEED Certification does for promoting environmental health in organizations.
EHS Today

12 Types of Technology That can Make Jobsites Safer

Innovations such as wearables, drones and predictive analytics help improve hazard detection and incident prevention.