Employee vs. Independent Contractor: What Is the Difference?
Tax season is here. One big challenge for construction companies is classifying its different workers. Are they employees or independent contractors? Misclassify the former as the...
When Is a Trench a Confined Space?
OSHA requires employers to follow set procedures whenever their employees are working inside a confined space. But what exactly is a confined space, and does a trench qualify? A...
How to Improve the Project Manager-Superintendent Relationship
Project managers and superintendents both play vitally important roles on construction projects. But it’s no secret that the humans in these roles sometimes butt heads. Robert Muir...
At a Midlife Crossroads, She Followed Her Heart to a Career in Construction
The heart wants what the heart wants. And in Patty Vitale’s case, as a woman in her early 50s, it wanted a job in construction, one that would challenge her, prove her worth to her...
The Benefits of Load Pins in Trenches and Other Excavations
Many contractors today are using hydraulic bracing systems — a combination of modular struts and walers — to shore up the vertical faces of an excavation and prevent soil movement...
GIRLS CAN Construction Camp Shows Girls that They, Too, Can Wield Tools
For girls who never would have thought they could pursue a skilled trade, one annual summer camp has a message: Yes, you can — and maybe you should. GIRLS CAN Construction Camp...
Tips for Inspecting Trench Shoring and Shielding Equipment
When your crew is working in trenches 5, 10 or 20 feet below ground, you want to know the shoring and shielding equipment you’ve installed to protect them is doing its job. Pre-use...
Teaching the Soft Skills Every Construction Manager Needs
To build things, humans need to work together. Graduates of today’s best construction management programs have an excellent understanding of the technical side of construction —...
7 Ways to Manage Costs and Improve Your Bottom Line
In the construction industry of today, to grow or even preserve your profit margins you need to find smart ways to cut costs, especially as salaries for skilled workers are rising...
Building a More Resilient Infrastructure with Composites
Take a close look the next time you see a work crew erecting a new utility pole or making structural repairs to a bridge. The materials they’re using may be made from composites...
