Category: Labor & Workforce Development
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National Recovery Month: Tackling Addiction and Mental Health in Construction
Breaking the Silence on Addiction in Construction Construction workers account for 15% of workplace overdose fatalities in the U.S. — a staggering number that highlights the urgent need for awareness and action during National Recovery Month this September. Research shows construction employees are nearly twice as likely as the general workforce to struggle with substance…
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Newforma Appoints New SVP of Engineering While Advancing AI Strategy
Newforma has appointed Benjamin Bazso as senior vice president of engineering as the company advances its artificial intelligence strategy for the architecture, engineering, construction and owner (AECO) industry. A veteran of Samsung Ads and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Bazso will oversee development of tools designed to improve project and information management. The company said it will…
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Cold Weather Workwear for Concrete Crews: Preventing Frostbite and Cold Stress on the Job
When concrete crews pour slabs in January or set sidewalks during sleet, the job continues regardless of the cold. For contractors, winter brings challenges that go beyond discomfort. Frostbitten fingers make it difficult to tie rebar, numb feet create unstable footing and the risk of hypothermia rises quickly without proper protection. Reliable winter workwear is…
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Construction CEOs Form Council to Address Suicide Prevention
Executives from some of the nation’s largest construction companies and unions have launched a CEO Advisory Council aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving mental health across the industry. The inaugural meeting, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), brought together leaders from Bechtel, Fluor, Turner Construction, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU),…
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Toro Names Tom Werner General Manager of Sitework Systems Division
The Toro Company has named Tom Werner general manager of its Sitework Systems business. Werner joined Toro in 2018 as a senior product marketing manager in the Residential and Landscape Contractor division. He later became senior director of marketing for the same business, where he oversaw new product launches, expanded channel partnerships and led brand…
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New Training Option to Modernize Fall Protection Training
FallTech has launched FT-Xpert, a fall protection training program aimed at providing targeted, role-specific instruction for today’s workforce. The program addresses shortcomings of traditional courses, which often require all workers to complete lengthy training designed for supervisors. FT-Xpert offers flexible courses tailored to real-world job functions, from general Authorized Person training to advanced Competent Person…
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Why Suicide Prevention Belongs in Construction Safety Culture
In construction, we talk a lot about safety. We train for it, we plan for it and we measure it. But there’s one safety risk that too often goes unspoken – mental health. It’s a difficult topic, but one we can’t afford to ignore. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, construction has…
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California PAGA Reform: How Employers Can Stay Compliant With Meal and Rest Break Laws
California is well-known for having some of the most rigorous labor requirements in the United States, especially concerning employee meal and rest breaks. These regulations have been in place for over two decades, but recent legislative changes raise the stakes for non-compliance. As of July 1, 2024, California reformed its Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA),…
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Trimble Names New CAO and CIO as Leadership Transitions Begin
Trimble announced that chief accounting officer Julie Shepard will retire in early 2026 after more than 18 years with the company. Shepard will remain in her role through the audit of the 2025 financial statements and work closely with her successor to ensure a smooth transition. The company named Kenny Bement as its next CAO,…
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Pre-Apprenticeship Programs Fuel Workforce Diversity in Illinois Construction
Women and people of color are now the two fastest-growing groups in Illinois’ construction workforce, a shift researchers link to investments in pre-apprenticeship programs. The findings come from a study by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Pre-apprenticeships, also called…