Tag: safety

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 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 9th, 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 

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.

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending August 15, 2025

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

  • U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Explosion: A tragic explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh on August 11, 2025, resulted in two fatalities and at least 10 injuries. The incident caused significant damage to the facility, with emergency crews continuing search and rescue operations for a missing worker. The cause of the explosions remains under investigation, and the event has raised concerns about safety and environmental issues at the plant, which has a history of accidents and pollution-related lawsuits. READ MORE.
  • Penn Hills AML Reclamation Project Success: The Penn Hills AML Reclamation Project in Allegheny County was highlighted this week for successfully addressing long-standing issues from abandoned coal mines, such as flooded basements and dangerous mine discharge. Completed by August 12, 2025, this award-winning project has eliminated these hazards, improving living conditions for residents. WATCH VIDEO.
  • State Budget Update Featuring Infrastructure Money: The Pennsylvania House approved legislation that includes $292 million in additional funding for SEPTA, aiming to forestall service cuts that could have slashed up to 50% of transit operations statewide. Furthermore, the bill proposes $325 million in highway funding and $275 million for rural roads, which would sustain and potentially expand crucial infrastructure construction initiatives. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending August 8, 2025

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

Pennsylvania is BOOMING: Pennsylvania’s construction sector is active, with $34 billion contributed to the state’s GDP in 2024 and 31,000 construction establishments. Projects like those in Pittsburgh and statewide infrastructure improvements (e.g., PennDOT’s 684 bridge projects in 2023) indicate robust activity. READ MORE.

Major Work on I-95 In Philly: Overhead sign structure installation will close I-95 North at night August 11-14 in Center City, with ongoing inlet repairs weekdays August 1-29 on I-95 North near Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia. This represents one of the most significant traffic-impacting construction projects currently underway in the state. READ MORE.

Windfarm Upgrades Help with AI Data Center Growth: Exus recently secured over $158 million to boost capacity at the Twin Ridges wind farm in Somerset County—raising its output by around 30% to 170 MW—and to upgrade the Patton wind farm in Cambria County. These enhancements aim to meet skyrocketing energy demands from AI data centers across the state. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Weekly Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending July 25, 2025

Here are the top construction news stories across Pennsylvania for the week ending July 25, 2025:

  • Penn State University Construction Projects: Penn State continues to advance multiple transformative construction projects across its campus, including the recently completed Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building, the ongoing $115 million Osmond North Building (set for completion in January 2027), and renovations at Beaver Stadium, which could cost up to $700 million. These projects aim to enhance academic facilities, student housing, and athletic complexes, aligning with Penn State’s broader goals to improve campus life and infrastructure. READ MORE
  • Pennsylvania Budget Talks Stall Over Road & Bridge Funding: As the legislature works on the state budget, transportation funding has become a sticking point. Republicans are demanding substantial funding for roads and bridges—including up to $500 million in debt financing—while also resisting increases in public transit funding proposed by Governor Shapiro. This impasse has significant implications for the future of construction planning across the state. READ MORE
    • Pennsylvania Senate Designates “Construction Opioid Awareness Week”: The Pennsylvania Senate has officially designated the week of July 21-25, 2025, as “Construction Opioid Awareness Week” through Senate Resolution 133. READ MORE

    Stay safe, stay informed and keep building Pennsylvania strong!

    Life Lessons Are All Around

    Recently I was driving with one of my daughters and as we went through the construction road project she says, “dad do you know that guy?” She was asking about the flagger who was directing traffic as we entered the construction zone.

    I told her I did not know that individual and how I wave to all flaggers. She responded with, “yeah I know you wave all the time, but that guy smiled when he waved back, and it looked like he knows you.”

    After we drove through the jobsite, I went on to explain why I wave to the flaggers: Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes in life. If you have a job where you see people all day long, would you rather see people who look at you, appreciate your role and give you a friendly smile? Or would you rather encounter people all day long that ignore you?

    Every job is important and serves a purpose, that’s why employers pay workers for their efforts. Using the construction flagger as an example, can imagine life without the flaggers – it would be chaos without them, and I appreciate the order and safety they bring to our roadways.  

    I didn’t expect to have this discussion with my daughter as we drove to her cheer practice, but I’m glad we took advantage of the moment. Life lessons are all around, just look for the signs and make the most when the opportunity arises.

    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.