By Tom Harrison Over the last five months, paramount shifts have been made by many industries across the globe in response to COVID-19. For construction businesses, these modifications are likely to remain in place even after the virus subsides. Construction industry leaders are re-evaluating their current organizational processes, including the impact of unionized labor, increased technology implementation to facilitate projects, and alternative hiring practices. These appra

In the span of a few short months, the coronavirus crisis has demanded sweeping changes from the U.S. construction industry, and experts say many of them will remain in place even after the outbreak recedes. From reliance on new technologies to a renewed focus on worksite safety and the increased influence of organized labor, changes brought by the pandemic may have a lasting impact on U.S. construction. Here are three ways that the pandemic has altered the construction indus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection among personnel can lead to extensive quarantine measures, or even temporary closure of the entire workplace if it is not possible to identify those potentially exposed to the virus. Finland’s Kaltio Technologies has developed a solution that enables occupational healthcare professionals to effectively identify those exposed in the workplace and guide them to the required quarantine, while other colleagues can continue working. The solution is

A redevelopment proposal would mature and take Scottsdale’s Entertainment District to a more sophisticated level when the community and local economy need it most, according to the owner of some 30 properties in the area. The Scottsdale Collective will help diversify the city’s economy with needed investments and new jobs while COVID-19 continues to decimate the tourism industry. Anchoring plans for The Scottsdale Collective is an estimated $3 million to $4 million private ar

A new AEC industry poll by the Design-Build Institute of America offers a glimpse into the continually shifting challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses for our industry. The May poll follows-up a similar survey taken early in the pandemic. While a lot has changed in that time there is one constant. Uncertainty still reigns. What's Changed More projects have been postponed or canceled, more positive cases of coronavirus on teams have led to more deaths and remote work has gone

With much of America’s trucking operations being grounded for the past several months during the COVID-19 outbreak, fleet managers (as well as the rest of the nation) are chomping at the bit to get back to work. But what does that look like in a world where trucks have been sitting idle for 90-days or more? A trucking fleet is designed to be used, and the fleet management software systems that have been installed to ensure efficiency, compliance, maintenance and safety are bu

CloudHauz™, a provider of disaster-resistant dwellings, announced today it has formally launched the company months earlier than anticipated in order to address the emergency housing situation worsened by the COVID-19 outbreak. The company has ramped up its East Coast manufacturing facility and has begun to mass produce two dwellings needed for the COVID-19 crisis. The CloudHauz Mini™ is for the homeless currently sleeping on the streets and in unsafe encampments; and the Clo

As the nation transitions from stay-at-home orders to slowly reopening its doors amidst COVID-19's wake, Congress has a bipartisan opportunity to rebuild our nation's roads, bridges, and other infrastructure while also enhancing our economy. The trucking industry, which has long supported an infrastructure package, also would benefit not only from the positive economic effect produced from the passage of such a bill, but would aid America's truck drivers responsible for trans

Now that commerce is resuming across Arizona, business owners are entering into uncharted territory taking a risk that customers and employees will catch COVID-19 at the business. If that happens, who is responsible? The answer to this question is not so simple. It will depend on a number of factors, which are discussed below. I. Customer Claims If a customer visits a retail establishment and later develops the Coronavirus, under what circumstances, if any, would the busines

Construction workers have been deemed essential in many places that are under shelter-in-place orders, which means that they are hard at work, but still need to practice safety measures like keeping their distance from others and washing or sanitizing their hands often on the job site. Construction workers’ hands normally take a beating from heavy workloads but mix in the constant rubbing and scrubbing to clean them and they can quickly become raw, cracked or sore, which can

As businesses emerge from their COVID-19 related closures, facility managers must consider the potential maintenance challenges their facility has endured. Hot building temperatures, unused plumbing, dust, grime and pests can all take a toll on dark stores. MaintenX International has more than 40 years' experience with dark store maintenance and prepping for store openings. MaintenX has become a trusted partner for facility managers working to get their business back up and r

The Greater Phoenix Industrial market could be poised for a surge in demand for warehouse/distribution space, according to a report released today by Colliers International in Arizona. The “stay at home” orders resulting from the Coronavirus Pandemic have forced more people to shop online and those lasting habits will increase online retailer demand for distribution space in the city. Year-end 2019 forecasts were very rosy for all sectors of the commercial real estate indust

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) today announced plans to host a nationwide Safety Stand Down for COVID-19 on April 29. Electrical contractors across the country will invite employees, subcontractors, owners, architects and engineers to join the event to review company protocols and jobsite conditions, and ask questions, bringing focus to health and safety guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and the Occupationa

One of the largest and most influential construction unions, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), is calling on Congress to protect the nation’s 11 million US construction workers both on and off the job site. “While many construction workers have been deemed "essential" for building and maintaining critical infrastructure, we are an incredibly vulnerable workforce and we are being treated like we are expendable,” says IUPAT General Vice President Ji

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has and will be devastating to many Arizona businesses. Leases, product purchases, vendor contracts for service and employment agreements are just some of the potential casualties of a company’s inability to perform under a contract due to the pandemic. This new reality may cause businesses and individuals to have considerable difficulty meeting their contractual obligations. Is there a way out? The answer is “maybe.” Although not used ofte

With the global pandemic's devastating effect on the nation's health and economy, business interruption and other losses caused by the coronavirus are projected to total in the billions of dollars. Understandably, business owners are worried about how it will all impact their operations, and whether they have any recourse for their financial losses. You would be wise to proactively review your insurance policies to determine whether any virus-related losses may be covered. Wh

Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau (CICB), a veteran-owned Texas company with a global network, has rolled out its initial online training programs as a response to the coronavirus. As social distancing and safety precautions dissuade some companies from sending their employees to traditional classrooms, CICB has created several, dedicated online programs to meet the ongoing certification needs of crane operators and inspectors. The online training programs include prepa

Governor's stay-at-home order cites construction as an essential activity. Arizona’s efforts to combat the novel coronavirus can be viewed as a structure assembled in stages. The declaration of a public health emergency and the closure of schools laid the foundation in mid-March. The framework was soon erected with proclamations to cancel large gatherings of people and encourage teleworking; it was made sturdy when gyms and movie theaters closed and restaurants shifted to tak

In times of global crisis, the world relies on the trucking industry to transport essential items across the country. From medical supplies to restocking the shelves at local grocery stores, truck drivers play an integral role in maintaining the supply chain. In order to keep these essential items moving during the COVID-19 crisis, the Department of Transportation has suspended most of the Hours of Service regulations for those trucks that are transporting these essential goo

Potty Pros in New Jersey, has just deployed an entire fleet of more than 200 mobile sanitation stations to help critical construction sites across New Jersey and New York to stay open during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Many of these construction projects employ thousands of New Jersey and New York workers every day, including significant infrastructure projects that exceed over $4 billion. Joe Murray, general manager of PottyPros (Sanitary Solutions, Inc) had this to say: "It feel