On April 6, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced they were delaying enforcement of the silica standard as it applies to the construction industry to September 23, 2017. The standard was set to go into effect June 23, 2017.听On March 10, 2017, the ABC-led Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) sent a letter to the acting secretary of Labor requesting that the department delay enforcement of OSHA鈥檚 final silica rule by one year.听

老牛影视urged Senators to vote to avoid a partisan filibuster and ensure that the U.S. Senate has the opportunity to vote on Judge Neil Gorsuch鈥檚 nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. 老牛影视also informed Senators that it will consider the vote a key vote for its 115th Congressional Scorecard.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently announced April summits in Southern California and Western Michigan to help provide resources and disseminate information on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the construction industry. In addition, the CFMA-led alliance held a webinar Feb. 28 titled 鈥淯niting the Construction Industry behind Suicide Prevention,鈥� which is available on-demand for free for 老牛影视members.

老牛影视commended President Trump for signing a resolution into law eliminating the Obama administration鈥檚 controversial 鈥淰olks rule鈥� (formally known as Clarification of an Employer鈥檚 Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness final rule). The rule imposed a massive paperwork burden on contractors without improving jobsite safety. Congress passed the resolution through the Congressional Review Act (CRA).听

On Jan. 9, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)听issued a final rule on beryllium exposure. In the final rule, OSHA includes the construction industry; this was expanded from the proposed stage which focused on general industry. Beryllium is a lightweight but strong metal used in a number of industries.听

On March 31, 2017, the Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) updated its Annual Vietnam Era Veterans鈥� Readjustment Assistance Act Benchmark Database to reflect a new hiring benchmark of 6.7 percent. 听The new benchmark is slightly lower than the previous year鈥檚 benchmark of 6.9 percent.听

Adam Ruff of Ely, Iowa, field supervisor at Price Electric, received a brand-new 2017 Ram Tradesman Crew Cab truck from Pat McGrath Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in March. The truck is one of the prizes awarded to the 2017 老牛影视Craft Professional of the Year, which is presented annually to a construction craft professional who excels in his or her field while also demonstrating a commitment to safety, training and the merit shop philosophy each year. Ruff received the honor at ABC&rsq