CONTRACTORS MUST BE TRAINED IN LEAD-SAFE PRACTICES BY APRIL 22: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) April 22 will begin requiring all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. EPA’s Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program was established in April 2008 and will affect renovation contractors, maintenance workers in multi-family housing, and painters and other specialty trades that disturb an area of six or more feet containing lead paint. Under the program, both firms and individual employees will need to be certified by April 22 to work on projects that contain lead paint.
The original rule implementing the RRP program included an opt-out provision that exempted contractors from the rule if the owner of the building or home certified that no child under the age of six or pregnant women reside in the home and it is not a child-occupied facility, however EPA published a proposed change to the program in October 2009 that would eliminate the opt-out provision. The rule defines child-occupied facilities as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis.
During the comment period, ABC filed comments supporting the position of the National Association of Home Builders and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America to keep the opt-out provision and asking for a six-month delay of the rule, noting that there are not enough accredited trainers to meet the deadline. EPA has not said whether it will include the opt-out provision when the program goes into affect in April.
ABC will hold the EPA 8 hour certification class on
March 4th at the Omaha Education Center.
To hold your spot, please click here to email the name of your company
and anticipated number of participants. (See article above)
HALF OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WILL BE GREEN BY 2015 STUDY SAYS:About half of nonresidential buildings in 2015 will be green compared to the 15 percent that qualify today, according to a study by Good Energies, Inc., a venture capital firm based in New York. In addition, green buildings only cost about 2 percent more than a comparable non-green building, according to the study, and owners typically recoup the extra cost within three to four years earning four to six times the invested cost over the course of 20 years.
ABC LAUNCHES FACEBOOK PAGE:ABC Jan. 4 launched its official Facebook Fan page. To become a fan, simply search ‘ABC National’ or click here. The Facebook fan page provides an opportunity for members and chapters to receive updates from ABC as well as network with other members. Fans can also view photos posted by ABC and participate in discussions.
SENATE BILL ALTERS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SAFE HARBOR PROVISION:Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass) Dec. 15 introduced the Taxpayer Responsibility Accountability and Consistency Act of 2009 (S. 2882) in the U.S. Senate, which would significantly modify the rules governing when employers are allowed to classify workers as independent contractors. S. 2882 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include a provision that would require employers to show a “reasonable basis” for applying the independent contractors status or face employment tax liabilities. The bill would revise the “safe harbor” provision in Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 by allowing employers to classify workers as independent contractors only if there is written documentation from the Internal Revenue Service to the taxpayer addressing their employment status.
“Independent contractors are often the perfect solution to a pressing demand for the unique skills often required for specialized, short-term projects,” said Ashley Fingarson, ABC director of legislative affairs. “ABC opposes this, and any other proposal, that would attempt to impede the flexibility of employers to utilize these legitimate and valuable workers.”
UNIONS TENTATIVELY STRIKE A DEAL REGARDING EXCISE TAX: Unions tentatively struck a deal Tuesday to exempt collectively bargained healthcare plans from a tax on high-cost plans expected to be used to help raise revenue for the healthcare overhaul. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger met with House Speaker Pelosi Tuesday, a day after labor leaders met at the white House to express their opposition to the excise tax.
House and Senate Democratic leaders are to meet with President Obama this morning at the White House to discuss health care. House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel said he hopes there could be an agreement on the excise tax as early as today after the White House meeting, but then conceded: “that’s stretching the word ‘hope’.” Exempting collectively bargained plans would appease unions that often offer expensive health plans in lieu of higher wages. The deal could also help Obama avoid breaking his promise not to tax those earning less than $200,000. Obama recently expressed a preference for the excise tax.
Republicans who say they are upset over the continuing closed-door nature of the talks are planning to file a discharge petition today to force a House vote on a resolution requiring public access to the House-Senate negotiations on the health reform bill.
Training Classes
Management & Safety Class Schedule
JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2010
OSHA 10 Hour Class
OSHA requires a competent person on all job sites. This course ensures that your people have the necessary training to comply with OSHA standards CFR 1926.32(f) for a competent person. Training includes OSHA Construction Standards CFR 29 1926, Scaffolds, Ladders and Stairways, Housekeeping, Personal Tools, Electrical Hazards, Fall Protection, Materials Handling, Hazardous Communications and much more!
**CFR 192 OSHA Regulations Book for the Construction Industry with new steel erection standards will be available for $25.00** each for class participants.
$135.00 each attendee – Member Price/$240.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ January 19, 2010 - 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – OMAHA
¨ January 27, 2010 - 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – LINCOLN
¨ February 18, 2010 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – KEARNEY
¨ February 23, 2010 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – OMAHA
¨ February 25, 2010 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – LINCOLN
30 Hour OSHA Class
Federal Law requires each company have a designated trained safety coordinator. This will give your foremen, supervisors, safety directors or safety coordinators the expertise to comply with all OSHA and State requirements. This is an in-depth look at CFR 1926 and 1920 and NE 757 as they affect construction. Price includes study materials
$395.00 each attendee – Member Price / $595.00 each attendee –Non-Member price.
¨ February 2, 9, 16, 2010 – 7:00 – 5:30 p.m. - OMAHA
First Aid/CPR Classes
$50.00 each attendee – Member Price/$60.00 each attendee – Non-Member
Recertification only - $40.00 each attendee – Member Price/$50.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ January 28, 2010 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. - OMAHA
¨ January 29, 2010 – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – LINCOLN
¨ February 9, 2010 – 1:00 -5:00 p.m. - LINCOLN
¨ February 10, 2010 – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. - OMAHA
¨ February 17, 2010 – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – KEARNEY
¨ February 24, 2010 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. – LINCOLN
¨ February 25, 2010 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. - OMAHA
Forklift Training
The OSHA standard 29CFR1926.602(d)requires employees who operate forklifts be trained in both the classroom and through a practical exercise on the type of equipment that they will be running in the field.
$125.00 each attendee – Member Price/$200.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ January 20 & 21, 2010 - 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – OMAHA