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My Favorite Moment from My First Year at KCA: The Meeting that Changed It All

As I celebrate my one-year anniversary at the Keystone Contractors Association, I recall the meeting that changed it all for the KCA. I started at the KCA during the fall of 2016 and, after a three-month transition period learning from Mr. McDonough, I became the Executive Director of the KCA.

We held two KCA Board meetings and some KCA Committees met during the first six months after the transition period. Despite not having much to go by as far as a comparison goes, it just felt like the KCA get togethers were business as usual – nothing special. Then it happened.

For those first two Board meetings, I thought we were accomplishing what was expected of us – financials were in line, Association was humming along with minimal issues, etc. But I could sense that each of us, the entire Board and I, that we wanted to do more. What I did next could be viewed as unconventional, and if it failed could be viewed as a lousy idea, but what happened was magical.

We held a Board meeting with no agenda. I sat in a room with twelve construction executives, successful ones too that run their own construction company. Their time is extremely important. When the meeting started I said: “for today’s meeting, I want to know what’s on your mind: what work related topics do you want to discuss? What challenges do you face in running your company? Look there’s no agenda today. I’m hopeful that we’ll have a lively discussion in any direction we all want to take it. So, who wants to start it off?” The room went silent and then I continued: “This meeting could last two minutes or it could last two hours; it all depends on all of us.”

Again, silence. I really started to doubt my idea for this meeting and then one Board member said: “Does anyone else in the room have trouble finding qualified workers?” The ice was broken. From that point on it was as if the levee had broken. We discussed a wide gamut of issues affecting construction company owners from safety inspections to leadership development to community service to managing millennials to construction legislation. You name it and we discussed it. We went over our self-imposed two-hour limit too.

For each topic, we would spend ample time discussing it. Board members would offer each other advice on addressing an issue and collectively we would discuss if it’s something the KCA should look into addressing. This agenda-less meeting was succeeding on various levels. As the ‘new guy’ I got to see how the Board members interacted and you could sense the strong relationships that existed among them. Plus, I got to understand what issues are facing the membership and I could create a strategy to address issues that were appropriate for the KCA to get involved in.

One major KCA initiative that came to life as a result of our agenda-less meeting is our efforts in workforce development. KCA talked about this issue in the past but there wasn’t much action. We are currently working on a strategy to address the serious construction worker shortage issue that exists with both labor and management. This strategy will feature activities that stretch from grade school to middle school to high school to college to post education. While this comprehensive plan is being created, the KCA has begun implementing some actions already. This week we’re addressing students from Harrisburg High School about careers in the construction industry.

I share this agenda-less meeting story because I believe in sharing best practices. It worked for me and I’m not saying it may work for others, but if considering and you want more details let me know. If you’d like to share your management strategies with me, please feel free to contact me at 717-731-6272 or Jon@KeystoneContractors.com.

It’s always nice to leave a meeting and see a KCA member building a better quality of life. JC Orr is the General Contractor for the PA Housing Finance Agency in Harrisburg. This project is being built to achieve LEED Platinum and Passive House Certifications.

Let’s Spend PA Tax Dollars Efficiently

Today we are a few days away from the month of October. In Harrisburg, it should be a time that our legislature is working on crucial issues – education, healthcare, energy, opioid epidemic, etc., but instead our state is still trying to complete its budget. One Pennsylvanian even tracks it daily and any minute today we should see his post about the budget now being 89 days late.

Every time I think about the budget debacle, as a construction professional I think about a major issue that drives up the cost of public construction, that being the Separations Act. 10 to 13% – that is amount that we overpay for construction services in Pennsylvania. Think about that every time you drive around and see a public construction project underway – our state is paying 10 to 13% more from your tax dollars to construct that building than what Maryland would pay for it. Next time you hear that your local school district is holding a school board meeting, think about all the topics they cover under their buildings and grounds report and how those projects will cost tax payers 10 to 13% more than what New Jersey would pay due to a meaningless mandate.

The Separations Act requires Pennsylvania to build in an archaic manner where multiple prime contractors take a lead role, and point fingers at each other while standing next to their attorneys every step of the way. Claims, lawsuits, delays – those are the norm for public construction projects in our state and those are the factors that drive up the cost of construction. In other states, like West Virginia, Ohio, and 47 other states in our nation, they are free to choose the most efficient construction delivery method. Our federal government and the entire private sector are also free to choose the most cost-effective delivery method.

So next time you read a newspaper article on the state budget impasse, just think about how we overpay for construction services by 10 to 13%. Let that fact sink in while you start your day, the 89th day that we are late on this year’s budget.

Please share this petition with your contacts, urging them to sign: https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-repeal-pa-separations-act. Also contact your legislators and let them know that you want action on Senate Bill 744 and House Bill 1529.

Are You Ready For OSHA’s New Silica Standard?

The enforcement of OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard that applies to the construction industry begins on September 23, 2017. After some delays to allow OSHA to conduct additional outreach and to provide educational materials and guidance to employers, the date is almost upon us. Are you ready? If not quite there yet, KCA can help.

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Since it could be debated that this is one of the most complex standards the construction industry has faced, it was understandable that it seemed as though a silica event happened daily throughout the country. At the Keystone Contractors Association, we wanted to host one more educational event on this topic to assure construction employers are prepared. This week we hosted a facilitated discussion led by OSHA’s Dale Glacken, Compliance Assistance Specialist for the OSHA Harrisburg Area Office. This discussion included commercial construction professionals from both general contractors and subcontractors based throughout the Commonwealth.

Here are the key takeaways from this discussion:

List – Prior to project commencement, make a list of all potential silica hazards. Add the tasks that will need to be performed on a project where workers could be exposed to silica. Will sandblasting be performed on this project? What about jackhammering, concrete drilling, brick/concrete cutting, concrete mixing, chipping/scraping, etc.? Just think about the project and what construction activity needs to happen as you reach milestones along the way.
Assessment – After your list is created, go down each activity and assess each one. Provide the details for each item to understand them better – how much time will it take, what tools are needed, how many people, etc.?
Controls – While working off the list created earlier and the details on each item, think now about how to control the silica exposure for your workforce. What PPE is needed? Do the tasks have to be completed near other workers, or for example can blocks be cut away from others in an enclosed area? What are ways that dust be controlled? At this point you may want to refer to the table 1 of the OSHA silica standard to assist you in determining if you’re in compliance: https://www.osha.gov/silica/SilicaConstructionRegText.pdf.
Plan – Led by your company’s silica competent person, create the project specific plan, which includes specific controls for each activity that could potentially expose workers to crystalline silica. This plan should highlight scope of work to be completed, control methods, and housekeeping. Housekeeping is important in a silica plan, just as it is important in every aspect of safety. I’ve noticed that a clean jobsite, tends to be a safer jobsite. Also while developing the plan, think about if areas should be restricted to limit silica exposure. But don’t just create a plan and let it collect dust, make sure to implement it and carry out those competent person inspections, plus refer to the plan throughout the project to make sure it is being carried out and workers are protected.
Training – As highlighted in the plan, training plays a vital role. In this plan, training should focus on tasks that expose workers to silica. Along with making sure tools and PPE are made available, make sure too that training is available for those tools and PPE; proper use is necessary and don’t assume someone knows how to use something. The copy of OSHA’s Silica Standard should be readily available to all workers.
Medical – Making sure workers are healthy, and keeping them healthy, is important to this new standard. If a worker is to wear a respirator for more than 30 days per year, medical surveillance is required by the employer. This examination must be completed within 30 days of assignment unless the employee has had an examination within the last three years. Then periodical medical examinations should be offered at least every three years, or more if recommended by a health care professional. The employer will maintain a medical surveillance record on each employee.

Along with the rousing discussion, this KCA silica event also featured plenty of resources on the topic. KCA has each resource that was discussed, as well as numerous other silica resources that can help your company. Please do not hesitate to contact the KCA for help. To reach KCA call 717-731-6272.

NOTE: Comments were made during the event that many small businesses that work in the construction industry may not be prepared for the silica changes. Many KCA contractor members extended an invite to subcontractors who did not even know about this standard. If you encounter firms that need help, please let them know the KCA is here for them. We can schedule a time to stop by their operation or if they’d like we can simply provide them the resources needed on OSHA’s New Silica Standard.