OSHA – Page 3 – Building Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 26, 2025

This week’s top construction news in Pennsylvania:

State Government Building Projects: The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has listed several high-profile state building or restoration projects. Two notable ones are: The New Pennsylvania State Police Academy, which recently reached a major construction milestone; and, restoration/ upkeep efforts for the Governor’s Residence. READ MORE.

University of Scranton Campus Upgrades: The University wrapped up a number of building and landscaping projects this month, but the most noticeable upgrade was the addition of Weiss Hall, a four-story, 90,000 square-foot academic and community resource building on Madison Avenue. READ MORE.

KCA Scholarship Program: The KCA Scholarship Program Application has been updated. For more information, please visit: https://www.keystonecontractors.com/KCA-Scholarship/.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 19, 2025

The Keystone Contractors Association is heartbroken by the devastating loss this week of police officers Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Det. Isaiah Emenheiser and Det. Mark Baker who were killed in the line of duty. The construction industry has a special connection to our police force and all first responders and we grieve and pray for the families of our lost heroes.

This week’s top construction stories:

University City in Philly Core & Shell Completion: Gattuso Development Partners announced the completion of the core and shell for their new lab-focused building at 3201 Cuthbert St., part of Drexel University’s campus renewal efforts. The six-story, 140,000-square-foot structure is now in active leasing for life sciences tenants, with amenities including rooftop terraces and ground-level retail. This marks a milestone in Philadelphia’s innovation district expansion, with tenant fit-outs expected to begin in Q4 2025. The project, valued at over $100 million, supports the region’s growing biotech sector. READ MORE.

PHARE Fund Expansion Grows to Fund Over 1,000 Affordable Housing Projects Statewide: The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) kicked off implementation of Governor Shapiro’s expanded PHARE program, allocating an additional $85 million for 2025-26 to build or rehabilitate more than 8,200 affordable units. Since 2023, funded projects have surged 55%, with new awards targeting rural and urban gaps—such as 200 units in Allegheny County and 150 in Dauphin. The initiative, now capped at $110 million annually by 2028, includes low-income tax credits and aims to address a 200,000-household renter increase since 2010. READ MORE.

Updating Elevator Safety Standards in the UCC: The PA Department of Labor and Industry submitted draft regulations (Regulation #12-123) to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on July 23, with public comments closing this week. The updates align Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code with ASME A17.1-2019 standards for elevators, impacting new high-rise builds and retrofits in cities like Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Industry groups like PENNBOC praised the move for enhancing safety in commercial and residential towers, with final adoption expected by early 2026. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 12, 2025

This week we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the bravery of the first responders and everyday heroes who answered the call that day. May we never forget their sacrifice, and may we continue to stand united in their memory.

Here are the top construction stories from Pennsylvania this week:

SEPTA Avoids Cuts by Tapping into Reserves & Enacting Fare Increases: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is using $394 million in state-provided capital project reserves to restore transit services that had recently been cut to address a roughly $200 million deficit. The agency also approved a 21.5% fare increase, which is expected to generate about $31 million more annually. READ MORE.

Solar For Schools – Potential?: Despite reports on all this savings potential for going solar, only two schools in the Philadelphia school district currently have solar systems. The state’s Solar for Schools Grant Program has funded over two dozen school solar projects elsewhere in the region. READ MORE.

Harrisburg Revival Plans: Local planning experts are calling for renewed momentum in downtown Harrisburg development. A recent reflection points out a drop in large-scale projects since 2008, and challenges (funding, vision, parking) that have discouraged developers. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 5, 2025

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

Penn State Construction Update: Multiple transformative construction projects are ongoing at Penn State’s University Park campus, as reported by Centre Daily Times. Notable projects include the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation, the recently completed Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building, and the $115 million Osmond North Building, set for completion in January 2027. Additionally, a ground lease was approved for a rehabilitation hospital at Innovation Park, though rezoning issues remain. These projects are redefining the campus and student experience in Centre County. READ MORE.

Yazoo Mills To Build 3rd Plant in York: Yazoo Mills, North America’s largest independent manufacturer of paper tubes and cores—is expanding in Hanover (York County) with a new 107,000-square-foot facility. The $14 million investment includes five high-speed production lines and is expected to be completed by January 2026, boosting capacity and operational efficiency. READ MORE.

PA Turnpike Installs Solar Microgrid, Aiming to Be First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has begun constructing a solar microgrid to power its Western Regional Office (Troop T barrack) in New Stanton, Westmoreland County. The initiative began on September 3, and reflects the Commission’s push for sustainable infrastructure improvements. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Mike Sheehan Recognized as KCA’s 2025 Top Young Leader

The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) has named, Mike Sheehan at Penn Installations as a recipient of the 2025 KCA Top Young Leader Award—an honor given annually to recognize emerging leaders who are making a significant impact in the construction industry, KCA started this award in 2018.

Known for his leadership on key projects and passion for innovation, Sheehan has played a crucial role in driving success at Penn Installations and across the broader construction community. He is active in promoting industry safety, workforce development, and professional mentorship. He also volunteers as a firefighter for the Dauntless Fire Company in Ebensburg, PA in Cambria County.

“This award highlights the incredible contributions of young professionals who are shaping the future of construction in Pennsylvania,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of KCA. “Mike Sheehan has gone above and beyond—not just on the job site, but in building a stronger, more resilient industry and he does the same in his community.”

The award was formally presented during the 2025 Construction Celebration held on June 9^th, where colleagues and peers from across Pennsylvania’s construction industry gathered to recognize this year’s top achievers. Click to view the event video recap.

Media Contact:
Jon O’Brien
Executive Director
Keystone Contractors Association
(717) 731-6272
jobrien@keystonecontractors.com

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending August 29, 2025

On Labor Day, we celebrate every worker whose skill, commitment, and perseverance help build the America we’re proud to call home. Happy Labor Day!

On this year’s Labor Day, we celebrate every worker whose skill, commitment, and perseverance help build the America we’re proud to call home.

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

Restoring An Icon: Fallingwater Renovation Underway: A $7 million restoration project is underway at Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater estate in the Laurel Highlands. The two-year effort—set to wrap up by spring 2026—aims to eliminate chronic water infiltration by replacing roofs, repairing steel frames, injecting nearly 12 tons of grout into stone masonry, and restoring exterior walls. The work must uphold UNESCO and National Register standards, making execution especially complex. READ MORE.

$1.6 B Montgomery Lock & Dam Modernization: In Monaca, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun a $1.59 billion rehabilitation of the Montgomery Lock and Dam on the Ohio River. The project includes demolishing the auxiliary lock chamber and building a new, larger 110-ft × 600-ft primary lock. Completion is targeted for 2033, and work remains in early stages. READ MORE.

Fast-Tracking Renewable Energy Permits Ahead of Federal Deadline: Pennsylvania is accelerating wind and solar project approvals to qualify for expiring federal tax credits before July 2026, amid President Trump’s phase-out policy. Gov. Josh Shapiro is advocating for a state energy siting board to streamline permitting, similar to Michigan’s 2023 law, to cut bureaucratic delays and boost construction starts. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Keystone Contractors Association Recognizes Excellence in Jobsite Safety with Annual Safety Awards

[Harrisburg, PA] — The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) continues its tradition of promoting workplace safety and health through its annual KCA Safety Awards Program—an initiative that honors construction firms throughout Pennsylvania for outstanding safety performance and commitment to protecting their workforce.

The KCA Safety Awards highlight general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors who demonstrate exceptional safety records, industry leadership, and innovative safety practices. Participating firms submit detailed safety data—including total hours worked, OSHA recordable incidents, and lost-time injuries—which are analyzed and compared to national safety benchmarks.

“Safety is the cornerstone of everything we do in the construction industry,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of KCA. “These awards are about more than just numbers—they reflect the daily commitment our members make to ensure every worker returns home safe.”

Each year, winners are honored during the Construction Celebration, a special event hosted by KCA in Harrisburg that’s promoted across industry publications and media platforms. In addition to recognizing company-level achievements, the program helps elevate safety awareness and best practices across the state’s construction sector. Highlights from this year’s event: 2025 Construction Celebration Recap.

The KCA Safety Awards are open to all association members, and data is submitted confidentially for evaluation. The program aligns with KCA’s broader mission to improve industry standards, foster collaboration among contractors, and promote workforce development throughout Pennsylvania.

KCA Safety Award Winners in Honored in 2025:

General Contractor: Safest Record with ZERO injuries over 100k hours

Quandel Construction Group, LLC

NOTE: This category winner receives the HB Alexander Trophy, named after a founding father of the KCA who was renowned for safety leadership.

Subcontractor: Safest Record over 100k hours

Novingers, Inc.

General Contractor: Safest Record with ZERO injuries between 50k & 100k hours

Serviam Construction, LLC

Subcontractor: Safest Record between 50k &100k hours

Penn Installations, Inc.

General Contractor: Safest Record with ZERO injuries under 50k hours

Bill Anskis Company, LLC

Subcontractor: Safest Record with ZERO injuries under 50k hours

Ralph E. Jones, Inc.

Most Improved Safety Record

McClure Company

About the KCA: The Keystone Contractors Association is a commercial construction trade association that provides services in areas such as safety, education, career development, labor relations, community service and government relations. For more information, interview requests or photographs, please contact the KCA: 717-731-6272 \ Jon@KeystoneContractors.com.

Construction Opioid Awareness Week Starts Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the start of Construction Opioid Awareness Week.

Working with our industry partners, we developed five videos and toolbox talk materials on five important topics for this year’s awareness week. A daily email will be delivered first thing in the morning each day to the KCA’s safety email list. If you are not on this list and would like access to the videos, please let us know by sending an email to Jon@KeystoneContractors.com.

The theme to this year’s week is: return to the basics. We started this opioid awareness week in 2017, and the construction industry, much like society in general, was trending in the right direction concerning opioids, addiction and general wellness, but then 2020 came. During the past two years we have seen an increase in addiction and suicide rates and it appears to be a good time to return the basics. We picked five video topics that may appear elementary like pain management and employee assistance programs, but we feel these topics need emphasis to get us trending back in the right direction.

Additionally, for the first year of Construction Opioid Awareness Week in 2017, we sent construction companies across the state “Opioids – Warn Me” stickers to be placed on medical and pharmacy cards. What may appear to be such a simple, basic message was just the opposite – it was extremely powerful to have an authority figurehead from a company (the person who signs the front of the check, executive, superintendent, etc.) personally distribute these stickers to their workers letting them know that they are an important part of this company. Please do not hesitate to contact the KCA if you would like more of these stickers for your company.

Lastly, please feel free to share any feedback or photos from your company participating in this year’s Construction Opioid Awareness Week.

I Stand Corrected, but I still believe Safety First!

Last week was the fifth annual OSHA Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week. The Keystone Contractors Association members joined the rest of our country’s construction industry in being excited about this weeklong tribute to safety.

This enthusiasm rubbed off on the KCA staff, and as a result I penned an article about how the staff plans to hold a Safety Stand-Down on emergency evacuation. We held the training and I’m glad we did it so now we’ll be prepared if something happens at our office.

However, after the training we were informed that while OSHA encourages training, if you’re going to hold a Stand-Down during May 7-11, 2018 and call it a Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week event, then it has to be falls related. Upon learning this fact, the KCA staff had a safety consultant speak to the staff about fall hazards during the week so that we could state that we held a falls related Safety Stand-Down during OSHA’s Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week. We urged each KCA member to conduct a Stand-Down during the week and because of that we felt it was important to practice what we preach.

While I erred in encouraging any type of safety training to be held during the Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week, I later discovered that the error was in the moniker I used in labeling the event during the week of May 7-11, 2018. Five years ago, this May week was originally named an appropriate title to try to help in reducing the number one cause of construction fatalities – falls. But over time large, national/global construction firms working through the Construction Industry Safety Institute (CISI) created Safety Week (which is held in conjunction with the Stand-Down to Prevent Falls Week).

The aim of Safety Week is to raise awareness of the construction industry’s continuing commitment to eliminate worker injuries, and to clearly communicate the industry’s dedication to a culture of care and concern and the belief that every week must be Safety Week!

So, I messed up and called our emergency evacuation training a Stand-Down to Prevent Falls Week event, when in fact it should have been called a Safety Week event. But I’m kind of glad I flubbed this one, because of this blunder the KCA staff received two safety trainings during Stand-Down to Prevent Falls Week and Safety Week.

Safety First!

Let’s Pause for Safety During May 7-11

This Monday marks the beginning of the 5^th annual “OSHA National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week.” On May 7-11, 2018, thousands of construction jobsites across the country will hold a safety Stand-Down event. It’s time ALL industries join construction and take a moment to pause and talk about safety hazards at work.

A safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event to allow for employers to speak with its employees about safety at work. Any workplace can conduct a safety talk, and any topic can be focused on – distracted driving, proper lifting, emergency evacuation, workplace stress, etc. Just because OSHA refers to it as: “Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Week” doesn’t mean this week is only for construction and the only topic is falls. This week-long tribute to safety was born out of the construction industry and falls are the leading cause of casualties in this industry so I assume OSHA wanted to draw more attention and training to falls hazards.

However, over its brief five-year existence, this has grown and more and more industries are celebrating safety during this week. Every year more non-construction employers are holding Stand-Downs. In fact, OSHA claims that the largest single participant for one stand-down was the United States Air Force in 2015 and 2016, both times reaching more than one million military and civilian personnel.

The Keystone Contractors Association is a commercial construction trade association. We hope 100% of our members participate in an OSHA Stand-Down this year. We, the association staff, are not construction professionals – we work in an office providing various services to contractors. But our staff of three will conduct our Stand-Down on emergency evacuation. Hopefully we won’t find ourselves in an emergency in real-life, but thanks to this year’s Stand-Down we’ll be prepared. This also shows that any sized employer can hold a Stand-Down.

Following the Stand-Down, employers should visit the OSHA Stand-Down website to download a Certificate and provide feedback on the experience. (https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/index.html). The sharing of best practices is an excellent way to improve safety and protect our workers.

At KCA we believe that teamwork improves safety and we hope that work teams across Pennsylvania will take a moment to focus on Safety during May 7-11!