Category: Industry Insights

Construction is a high-risk industry, and ensuring the safety of workers is paramount. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal agency in the United States, has established rigorous standards to protect the well-being of construction workers. Here, we discuss the key OSHA standards for construction safety, providing comprehensive insights into the regulations that safeguard the lives of those working in this demanding field. Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) Falls are among the most common causes […]

Source: Peter Slowik, Aaron Isenstadt – https://theicct.org/us-ev-sales-soar-into-24-jan24/U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Soar into 2024 Is the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) slowing down in the United States? The short answer is no. Data from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation reveals continuous and significant growth in light-duty EV sales in the U.S. from 2021 through the third quarter of 2023. As shown in Figure 1, quarterly sales increased from about 125,000 in Q1 2021 to 185,000 in Q4 2021, […]

How ALPR Systems Work Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems automatically capture images of vehicles and their license plates, convert the plate images into alphanumeric characters using optical character recognition, and compare the plate numbers to databases of vehicles of interest, known as “hot lists.” When a match is found, law enforcement is alerted. These systems help law enforcement identify vehicles linked to suspects, witnesses, or victims, and can connect serial criminal activities across different jurisdictions. Usage […]

Contractor compliance is a vital process that ensures contractors adhere to an organisation’s requirements. In essence, it is an integral component of contractor management, focusing on evaluating the extent to which a specific contractor fulfills their duties in alignment with the terms of an agreed contract. From initial onboarding to exit procedures, on-site inspections to tax obligations, there are numerous factors involved in establishing an effective contractor risk mitigation program for any organisation. For any entity engaging […]

Privately owned commercial construction companies are increasingly taking the lead in offering parking improvement services to meet the growing demands of businesses, commercial properties, and public spaces. In this article, we will explore the comprehensive process these companies undertake to transform parking facilities. From engineering and permitting to construction, these firms play a crucial role in enhancing parking areas, making them safer, more efficient, and aesthetically pleasing. Engineering and Planning The first step in the process of […]

Introduction In the realm of building ownership and facility management, the management of contractor compliance takes center stage as a pivotal factor in upholding a secure and efficient work environment. Non-compliant contractors, it follows, pose not only potential liabilities but also introduce substantial financial risks into the equation. This essay embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the significance of contractor compliance, and, in particular, the utility of advanced software in this context. Safety Training and Incidents At […]

How safety in the industry has changed over the decades Sean Scott, current chair of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations, speaks with COS senior journalist, Shane Mercer, about safety in the industry and how it has changed over the past several decades. The episode is the first part of a Canadian Occupational Safety series to mark 60 years of publication. Source: https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/video/safety/then-and-now-the-evolution-of-construction-safety/433939

This year the Earth will surpass the 8 billion person mark. This is a great visualization to see how the population is distributed by country. Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualized-the-worlds-population-at-8-billion/

The clothing seller tries out green energy that works via transparent cells Source: Wall Street Journal. At Patagonia Inc.’s California headquarters, some windows double as power generators. The outdoor-clothing retailer is one of the first companies to test solar-panel windows, a new and largely unproven technology that proponents hope will become a crucial source of electricity for homes and commercial buildings. The windows look much like normal windows, but include a layer of transparent photovoltaic cells between panes of […]

In a world-first, scientists create eco-friendly cement from algaeThe era of sustainable construction has arrived. Every year about two gigatons (2,000,000,000,000 Kg) of CO2  is released into our environment due to the production and usage of cement. According to a report from the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), cement ranks thirdamong the top ten biggest sources of industrial pollution. Surprisingly, a team of researchers claims that we can put a full stop to this cement-driven carbon emission overnight […]

This is a quick visual history of human-created light sources over the past ~400,000 years, from wood fires to candles to the electric light. In 3,000 BCE, the “rushlight” candle was invented in Ancient Egypt. It is made of a pithy stalk of rush soaked in animal fat. In 1500 BCE, Babylonian/Assyrian lamps were created from olive or sesame oil. They had a linen wick and were fashioned from stone, terracotta, metal or shells. In 100 CE, […]

Talk to a lot of carpenters, and they’ll express similarly warm feelings about their job. It’s the rare profession that doesn’t require an expensive education, yet offers decent pay. It’s largely unaffected by automation or globalization. And aside from occasional downturns, carpenters are in steady demand. So, why does America have so few of them? Even among the other construction trades, which have long faced retention and recruitment problems and for which there were ~400k unfilled jobs […]

As commercial contractors committed to leave the world a bit greener to our children, we are always wondering how construction, material and the overall construction process could be improved to better assist lower carbon emissions. Read this article which highlights some of the challenges related to this major question. Being eco-conscious in Construction is not an easy task. As outlined in this report from the BBC, building efficiencies can go a long way and contribute to reduce […]

Very interesting numbers highlighted by this new solar panels research study. Solar panels are another fantastic and creative invention we fully support. First, Rooftop solar panels are up to 79% cheaper than in 2010. Second, covering 50% of the world’s roofs with solar panels would provide enough capacity to meet the world’s annual electricity needs. Rooftop solar panels are up to 79% cheaper than they were in 2010. These plummeting costs have made rooftop solar photovoltaics even […]

Construction professionals are questioning elements of President Joe Biden\’s new vaccine requirements. Source: Construction Dive, Sebastian Obando Since President Joe Biden issued plans to mandate vaccines in some workplaces earlier this month, a number of construction companies are encouraging their employees to get vaccinated and are trying to figure out what the new rules mean for their workplace. Biden announced on Sept. 9 that private employers with more than 100 employees will be required to either mandate […]