Author: Laura Black
We are in the middle of a blog series, where we are looking at safety trends in construction. Today, let’s look at safety at the construction jobsite. With March being National Ladder Safety Month, the ALI (American Ladder Institute) is raising awareness about ladder safety, in order to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities. Every year more than 100 people die in ladder-related accidents and thousands suffer injuries, according to American Ladder Institute—and many agree that falling is one of the leading causes of deaths in the workplace. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Admin.) points to four fatal…
After two years of living through the COVID-19 pandemic—and all the personal and business disruption that came as a result—and now the global tensions amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, safety is on the minds of most these days. For construction companies, this means safety on the jobsite and building safe structures—homes, buildings, and infrastructure—for those who occupy them. First, let’s paint a picture of safety in workplace in the past to get a better idea of where we are now. Many of you might remember those infamous photos from construction on the Empire State Building, which started less than…
Welcome to Women in Construction Week, which coincides with International Women’s Day. This week celebrates, educates, and promotes the role of women in the construction industry—and the theme for both the week and the day coincide. The theme for this year’s Women in Construction Week is Envision Equity, which seeks to raise awareness of opportunities for women to enjoy a wide range of roles in the construction industry, from tradeswomen to project managers to administrative positions and business ownership. Meanwhile the theme for International Women’s Day is to Break the Bias, which is to imagine a gender equal world. While…
With all the talk of the metaverse, businesses are determining how this might impact operations in the months ahead. One thing is for certain: The future is artificial, which is going to add a lot of intelligence to construction projects, if done right. Consider the recent prediction from IDC that forecasts companies will increase spend on AI (artificial intelligence) solutions by 19.6% in 2022. The report looks at three technology categories: AI software, AI hardware, and AI services. Let’s take a closer look at each. AI software will actually see its share of spending decline slightly this year, as these…
In recent months, there has been a lot of talk about how home design and technology preferences are changing, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—and that talk continued at NAHB (National Assn. of Home Builders) IBS (Intl. Builders Show) and KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) earlier this month. Since the early days of the pandemic, we at Constructech have espoused the way we live, work, and play in our homes has changed, which unequivocally is changing the way homes need to be designed and built. Perhaps this comes as a surprise to none, but we are trending toward…
From manufacturing to construction, and everything in between, predictive maintenance and AI (artificial intelligence) are already in use in many industries—and now one new report suggests there will be much stronger adoption in intelligent buildings in the months ahead as well. In January, CABA, an international not-for-profit industry association dedicated to the advancement of connected home and intelligent building technologies, announced the close of its research on AI and Predictive Maintenance in Intelligent Buildings. Using a combination of stakeholder surveys, expert interviews, and detailed market analysis, the aim of the research is to understand how use cases, customer environments, buying…
Perhaps this goes without saying, but the combination of the uptick in work and the lack of talent is creating the perfect storm. Naturally, the question become: What are the best ways to enlist new workers to join the construction industry? Let’s explore. Entering 2022, FMI Corp., expects construction spending to increase by 5% this year. The latest NRCI (Nonresidential Construction Index) feedback suggests continued optimism heading into the first quarter of 2022, at 54.8, up slightly from 53.8 in the prior quarter. The index has dropped from highs nearing 60 in the third quarter of 2021 but remains expansionary…
What do you believe is one of the greatest threats to your business today? Is it still the COVID-19 pandemic? Or are there bigger barriers your company faces? Even with the risks that have come because of the pandemic and broken supply chains, a new report shows there is still a greater danger for many businesses today. Cyber concerns are the biggest worry for companies in 2022, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer. The annual survey from AGCS (Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty) incorporates the views of 2,650 experts in 89 countries and territories, including CEOs, risk managers, brokers, and…
I have been thinking a lot lately about the smart home of the future, what is driving it, and what in the past has held back widespread adoption. Naturally, cost and lack of integration could easily be cited as two of the biggest hurdles to building the smart home of the future, but some of that is beginning to dissipate. So, then, what’s next? There are three big trends to watch in the home in the months ahead. Let’s explore them now. New Needs in the Home The COVID-19 has changed much in every walk of life, but especially in…
Let’s wrap up our series on New Year’s resolutions for construction. We have already discussed the importance of focusing on the worker and leveraging technology. Today let’s explore the topic of considering sustainability in construction. Here is the reality of the situation: All business stakeholders will benefit from stronger ESG policies—and this is certainly true in the construction industry, where the net zero energy movement has taken hold. Consider what McCarthy Building Companies is doing. The company recognizes net zero energy buildings produce as much renewable energy onsite as they use on an annual basis, meaning these buildings are able…