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OCA – Carpenters Agree to Contract Extension
OCA’s Labor Relations Division and the Carpenters union have agreed to a 30-day contract extension of the current highway heavy agreement. The agreement, originally set to expire on March 31, 2018, will now remain in effect until April 30, 2018. All terms and conditions, including wages and benefits will remain the same under the extension. If you have any questions about the Carpenters agreement, please contact Mark Potnick in the OCA office.
Feedback Needed on Ohio EPA Draft NPDES Construction Storm Water General Permit
The Ohio EPA is asking for feedback on its draft General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Storm Water associated with construction activity. It includes a number of substantive changes to the storm water pollution prevention program requirements and post-construction practices. You can access the public notice, fact sheet, and draft general permit on the Ohio EPA website.
OCA will be submitting comments as part of a coalition of affected groups. Any feedback you could provide regarding proposed permit changes would be helpful in formulating our comments. Please send any comments to [email protected]. If you’re interested in submitting comments directly to the Ohio EPA, the deadline is April 4. We’d appreciate a copy of your comments, if possible, to assist us in our analysis.
A Big Thank You to Our Convention Sponsors
OCA would like to thank all of our members who sponsored OCA’s 97th Annual Convention in Kaua’i. We very much appreciate your generous contributions!
Barbicas Construction Co. Inc.
Columbus Equipment Co.
Ebony Construction Co., Inc.
Encore Precast LLC
Gerken Paving, Inc.
Hydro-Technologies, Inc.
John R. Jurgensen Co.
Lash Paving Company
Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co., Inc.
Paul Peterson Company
Prus Construction Co.
Rudd Equipment Company
Strawser Paving Co., Inc.
OSHA Looks at Easing Silica Rule Compliance for Contractors
OSHA is aiming to make it easier for construction contractors to comply with the agency’s 2016 rule protecting workers from inhaling silica dust, a mineral that can cause lung disease. The agency is looking at expanding its list of safe construction practices that protect workers from breathing in silica while performing tasks such as polishing stone or cutting concrete. “We are working with the construction community to see if we can add more tasks,” Ann Rosenthal, the department’s associate solicitor for occupational safety and health, said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s silica rule already details 18 construction methods, together called “Table 1" (29 C.F.R. 1926.1153 (c)(1)), that employers can follow to avoid putting in place a silica dust sampling program. Many of the methods involve vacuuming dust into bags or spraying water to prevent silica dust from blowing away. The construction rule (RIN:1218-AB70), which went into effect Sept. 23, 2017, sets a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
The 50-microgram limit also applies to general industry and maritime employers with a June 23, 2018, compliance deadline. It also sets an action level at 25 micrograms per cubic meter, which means employers must measure exposure at or above this level. The old rule set a permissible exposure limit of 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air for general industry and between 250 and 500 micrograms per cubic meter for construction and maritime.
Numerous employer groups challenged the rule in federal court. Hopes of overturning the rule were dashed Dec. 22 when the a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals For the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the exposure limit.
Join Us In May In Washington For the Annual Fly-In
2018 could be the year of infrastructure in Washington, D.C. and the construction industry must be involved as the federal funding program is developed. The Transportation Construction Coalition, ARTBA and AGC are once again co-hosting the annual “Fly-In” to Washington D.C. to let members of Congress know that they must create a long-term fix for the country’s highway funding program. This is your chance to discuss our industry’s needs with your members of Congress and to impress upon them the importance of addressing the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
This year’s Fly-In will be on May 15th and 16th. OCA staff and members will be attending.
At the TCC legislative briefing on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 15th you will receive information about what policy and funding proposals are being considered. You will hear from key policy makers from Capitol Hill and the Administration and receive educational briefing materials on key industry priorities for your use in meeting with your congressional delegation.
The transportation construction industry cannot afford to miss this opportunity to help shape the future of our Nation's infrastructure investment. Join hundreds of other industry leaders from around the country in delivering our message to Capitol Hill May 15-16 in Washington D.C. This year's meeting will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1000 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C 20001. The hotel will sell out, so we encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible with the Grand Hyatt by calling 888-421-1442. Mention the group name TCC Fly-In for the $329 per night room rate.
If you have questions, please contact Angela at [email protected].
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