Getting Paid
Among the many advancements this Association has made for its members over the last decade, the growing affinity programs, those services and contract opportunities that bring you significant discounts or performance advantages, are among our greatest source of pride. One such program is that from C2C Resources, a global commercial collections agency. Established at the […]
Responding to an OSHA Inspection (Part 2)
By Mark A. Lies, II & Elizabeth Leifel Ash INTRODUCTION In Part One of “Responding to an OSHA Inspection,” the focus was determining whether OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) had the right to conduct the inspection and, if it did, the proper scope it should have. As anyone who has ever experienced […]
6 Mistakes Concrete Contractors Make When Hiring People
By Doug Herbert As spring arrives, so do the opportunities for concrete contractors to do more work. We emerge from our winter slumber to finally see more bidding activity and orders from customers. Before we know it, we will be sweating it out in June, wondering how to find enough laborers to get all the […]
Stephens & Smith Construction Company Revives Student-Learner Program
FEATURE ARTICLE: Stephens & Smith Construction Company Revives Student-Learner Program By Jereme Montgomery, Business Development Many of you reading this article will testify that the skill gap is real. There is a shortage of skilled craftsmen in the construction industry, and it has continued (and will continue) to effect quantity and quality of structures built […]
Maintaining “Alternative Fall Protection Plans” Under OSHA Regulations
Adequate Fall Protection in Residential Concrete Foundation Pouring: Maintaining “Alternative Fall Protection Plans” Under OSHA Regulations By Michael G. Latiff and Mark W. Steiner On May 1, 2017, the secretary of labor for the Northeast District of Ohio issued what can be fairly characterized as an unprecedented serious citation to a residential concrete foundation […]
Seven Lessons Learned From Firing 300 People
Over the course of many years, I’ve fired more than 300 employees at our concrete construction company. The list of reasons for the dismissals is long and varied. I’ve fired people because they’ve caused problems on job sites, refused to take direction from their Foremen, stolen from the company or coworkers, been under the influence […]
ASSOCIATION NEWS: CFA Health and Safety Survey Says…
CFA conducted a survey on the state of safety education in member companies. The survey was the precursor for work being undertaken to develop a learning management system (LMS) and offer online courses for access by members of the Association, to bring better education to the workforce. Such an LMS not only elevates the quality […]
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT: Find Better Customers to Make More Money
Many concrete contractors are experiencing busy workloads. Their schedules are almost as full as they were before the Great Recession. However, their profits are not where they should be. I am often asked, “How do I make more profit on my construction jobs?” One of the best ways to make more money on your construction […]
Millennials in the Workforce
Millennials: we have all heard the word used in some way or another. In the workforce, it can carry a negative connotation among employers. Lazy, high maintenance, ignorant, entitled, and self-righteous are just a few of the words used to describe them. But this word carries with it another implication that the world is changing […]
Concrete Contractors Should Use the New (and Better) I-9 Form
Effective January 22, all US employers must be using the new version of Form I-9. Although in its simplest format, the form is relatively unchanged, contractors can and should download the form from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage and use the new form on a computer. Use this link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 There are […]
