March 27, 2018

One main reason for construction’s skilled-labor shortage is the lack of awareness and of a plan to build a pipeline of workers. Regrettably, nontraditional career paths often are not presented as viable and lucrative alternatives to college for young people graduating from high school. They are not often well informed about nontraditional career alternatives.
That’s too bad.

" It is time to stop telling our young people that their only path to success is a four-year college degree."

I wanted to be an ironworker because I looked up to generations of ironworkers in my family. My father and uncles were ironworkers, and a few of my cousins are. I remember starting my career as an apprentice ironworker at Local 29 in Portland in 1986. I paid my way through college, working rebar in the summer. I worked as a journeyman in many areas of the trade.
By the second year of my apprenticeship, I knew that I wanted to be an apprentice coordinator.   Read More...
WV construction is building momentum
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia celebrated nation-leading job growth in the construction industry this week, and close observers believe even better days are ahead.
“It is legitimate improvement. It really is legitimate improvement,” said Brian Lego, economic forecaster at West Virginia University’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Gov. Jim Justice touted West Virginia’s growth in construction activity during an appearance at the West Virginia Construction and Design Expo.
West Virginia added the  highest percentage  of new construction jobs during the past year at 14.4 percent, or 4,300 jobs. Read More...
Trump to Promote Infrastructure Plan in Ohio This Week
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to visit Ohio next week to promote his plans to rebuild and repair the nation's roads and bridges.
Trump asked Congress in February to consider using a $200 billion federal investment to leverage more than $1 trillion in state, local and private funding to pay for improvements to the nation's infrastructure, such as roads, highways, bridges, ports and airports. Read More...
Study: Ethane Crackers More Lucrative in Marcellus Region
DILLES BOTTOM — Officials representing those who may build an ethane cracker valued at up to $10 billion in Belmont County said they will acquire the Ohio-West Virginia Excavating property along the Ohio River, which would give them nearly 500 acres for the giant plant.

As Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical and South Korea’s Daelim Industrial Co. are working toward constructing the plant at Dilles Bottom, a new study shows building an ethane cracker in Ohio, West Virginia or Pennsylvania produces more value than a comparable plant along the Gulf Coast.
Presently, there are multiple ethane crackers in Texas and Louisiana. There are interstate pipelines, such as the ATEX Express, that ship ethane drawn from the Marcellus and Utica shale regions to the Gulf Coast for cracking. Read More...
SAFETY AND EDUCATION
A Safe and Sound Workforce

A safe and healthful workplace doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by design. Create and maintain a  safety and health program  in your organization to prevent workplace incidents before they become injuries or illnesses. OSHA’s  On-Site Consultation Program  offers free, confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On Site consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. For example,  Tennessee OSHA  (TOSHA) Consultative Services offer consultations to the state’s smaller employers, such as foam product manufacturer, Cassemco Inc., to help identify workplace hazards, comply with OSHA standards, and improve safety and health programs. After working with TOSHA consultants, Cassemco’s 24 employees have been free of workplace injuries for the past three years.
Employers Must Post 300A Injury/Illness Summary Until April 30

OSHA reminds employers of their obligation to post a copy of  OSHA’s Form 300A , which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2017. Each year, between Feb. 1 and April 30, the summary must be displayed in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and those in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping and posting requirements. Visit OSHA's  Recordkeeping Rule webpage  for more information on recordkeeping requirements.
PLAN ROOM NEWS
Ohio Valley Construction Employers Council

Ginny Favede, Executive Director

Telephone: 304-242-0520 Fax 304-242-7261 Website:         www.ovcec.com
21 Armory Drive Wheeling West Virginia 26003