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Eric Starkowicz Executive Director

As we navigate this snowy week—with more winter weather on the way—we’re here to keep you informed and connected with the latest updates and opportunities for our members.

One highlight you won’t want to miss is the upcoming OVCEC Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, now being held at the Highlands Event Center. We’re working on an exceptional lineup of presenters who will share insights into the future of construction in our region. Make sure to register soon—details can be found in the Events section below.

Additionally, this week’s newsletter features the article "Three Charts Contractors Should Watch This Year" from Construction Dive. It provides valuable data and trends to help you stay ahead in 2025—be sure to check it out.

Finally, don’t miss the Safety section, where we’ve outlined key updates on OSHA’s Injury Recordkeeping Requirements. Staying compliant is vital to keeping your team safe and your projects running smoothly.

Thank you for staying engaged with OVCEC. Stay warm, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you at the Annual Membership Meeting next month!

Project BEST Donates $40,000 to WVU Medicine for Children’s Outpatient Center

Project BEST signed a $40,000 check on Thursday to help create the new Robert Sonneborn Family WVU Children’s Outpatient Center on WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s campus.

The donation was brought by the partnership between the nonprofit and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, as Project BEST is part of the hospital’s construction trade.

Three Charts Contractors Should Watch This Year

Contractors are juggling optimism and unease entering 2025. From interest rate cuts to a new presidential administration, construction pros are keeping close tabs on key issues and trends that could drive costs up or unlock new opportunities.

Though the year’s outlook is uncertain, this article offers a few of the indicators that will have the greatest impact on building activity, according to economists and other industry experts.

Good Zoo Roaring With Excitement for New Lion Exhibit in 2026

Grab your safari hats and khaki — a new lion habitat is coming to the Oglebay Good Zoo in 2026.

The new 20,000-square-foot habitat will be the first of its kind in the state of West Virginia and the Good Zoo will be the first zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the nation to offer up-close experiences with lions, according to a news release.

As a “thank you” for your membership with OVCEC, your business has access to national account pricing with several vendors through OVCEC’s Member Rewards Program. These national accounts are managed by DSI, a group purchasing organization, but the associated savings opportunities are available to you solely as an OVCEC membership benefit and without DSI based costs or purchasing requirements.

Training and Safety Management

• 10% discount on Cintas / J.J. Keller Safety Management Tool, for new subscribers
• 10% discount on Cintas / J.J. Keller Online Training on Demand, for new subscribers

Contact Michael Petruzzi if you are interested. Call 720-382-8162 or email mpetruzzi@dsi-mail.com.

OSHA Injury Recordkeeping Requirements

Many employers with more than 10 employees are required to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses. Certain low-risk industries are exempted. Minor injuries requiring first aid only do not need to be recorded. Please visit this link for further information on first aid and medical treatment definitions: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping

OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Forms 

There are three basic forms to be completed and maintained on-site by businesses:

• OSHA Form 300– Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. This form documents all recordable injuries and illnesses that occur in a workplace. Information on the form includes names, titles, dates, locations, and the nature of the injury or illness recorded. 
• OSHA Form 300A – Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. This form summarizes all recordable events that occurred during the calendar year.
• OSHA Form 301– Injury and Illness Incident Report. This form is a slightly more detailed version of the OSHA Form 300.

Notable Deadlines

• Any recordable injuries or illnesses that occur at a workplace must be documented on the OSHA Form 300 and 301 within 7 calendar days of the incidence.
• All OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms must be retained for a minimum of 5 years.
• Each February through April, employers must post (at the business) a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. 

OSHA Electronic Injury and Illness Reporting through the Injury Tracking Application 

Establishments that meet certain size and industry criteria are required to electronically submit injury and illness data from their OSHA Form 300A, 300, and 301 (or equivalent forms) once per year to OSHA by March 2. OSHA collects this work-related injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA): https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting

The current requirements for electronic submission of information from the 300A Form include:

• From establishments with 20-249 employees in certain high-hazard industries as listed here: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/naics-codes-electronic-submission
• From establishments with 250 or more employees in industries that must routinely keep OSHA injury and illness records.
• In 2024, OSHA's final rule expanded electronic reporting requirements for certain establishments. Only establishments with 100 or more employees in designated industries are required to additionally submit case-specific information from the OSHA Form 300 Log. Those industries are listed here: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904SubpartEAppB

If you hear of a project you would like to see in our Plan Room, please let us know. We will make every effort to get it. And as always, if you need prints or you are interested in getting access to our online plan room, send us a message.

If you have questions, please contact us at ovcec@ovcec.com or 304-242-0520.