Building Ohio News
Issue: July 27, 2023
In This Issue...
- Submit Build Ohio Entries by 8/13
- Aug 8 Special Election
- AGC Climate Change Town Hall
- OSHA Finalizes Recordkeeping Rule
- AGC of America Awards Programs
- Economic News
TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ENTER A PROJECT IN BUILD OHIO, DEADLINE 8/13; Submission Information
Don’t miss this opportunity to show what your company can do and celebrate the construction industry! Build Ohio recognizes the construction industry with an annual awards competition and event, the Build Ohio Celebration.
The awards program is open to AGC of Ohio contractor members in good standing. Eligible projects for the awards program must be completed between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023 and located in Ohio. Submission categories include New Construction, Renovation, Specialty, Industrial/Heavy, and Transportation.
Winning projects receive a custom-made bronze and green marble Build Ohio statue and will be announced at the Build Ohio Celebration on November 10 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.
Learn more and enter a project here.
VOTING UNDERWAY ON ISSUE 1 IN OHIO’S SPECIAL AUGUST ELECTION
After passing a law to do away with August elections last fall, the Ohio General Assembly this spring passed a measure to schedule a special statewide election on Tuesday, August 8. For the first time in nearly 100 years, Ohioans will vote on a statewide issue in August: State Issue 1. Be sure to make your voice heard and vote!
Importing Voting Information: Early voting is underway, by mail or in person; request an absentee ballot online. at www.ohiosos.gov or call your county board of elections. August 1: Deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot. August 7: Ballots voted by mail must be postmarked by this date. August 8: Special election day. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; go to www.ohiosos.gov or call your county board of elections to find out where to cast your ballot.
What’s on the ballot?
Since rules were set in place by an Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1912, a simple majority (50% plus one) of Ohioans voting has been required to approve a state constitutional amendment. If passed, Issue 1 would change that to a 60% supermajority for any amendment on the ballot after August 8. The 60% rule would apply to all proposed constitutional amendments – including those proposed through the citizen initiative petition process or those recommended by the General Assembly (such as bond issues).
Issue 1 also raises requirements for the citizen-initiated process for constitutional amendments by mandating that petitioners reach a quota of valid voter signatures equal to five percent of the voters in the prior gubernatorial election in all of Ohio’s 88 counties, up from the 44-county standard that’s been in effect since 1912. A 10-day “cure period” to allow petitioners to address deficiencies in their signatures would also be eliminated if Issue 1 passes in August. The new signature requirements would go into effect in 2024.
A simple majority of ballots cast in the August special election (50% plus one) is needed to adopt Issue 1.
Official ballot language, arguments for/against filed with the Ohio Secretary of State:
www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/2023/spec/issuereport.pdf
Campaigns: No on Issue 1 - https://votenoinaugust.org; Yes on Issue 1 - www.voteyesohio.com
OSHA FINALIZES RECORDKEEPING RULE
OSHA finalizes rule expanding recordkeeping requirements to ensure certain construction firms submit work-related injuries and illness data, potentially mischaracterizing a contractor’s safety and health program and record in the absence of proper context.
On July 17, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a final rule that expands the current recordkeeping requirements, and goes into effect on January 1, 2024, to mandate the submission of Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses and Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report in addition to Form 300A-Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses data from construction establishments with 100 or more employees. Establishments with 20 to 99 employees continue to be required to submit only Form 300A-Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses data.
Of concern to AGC is OSHA’s intent to make the data collected publicly available on its website, which could result in the potential mischaracterization of a contractor’s safety and health program in the absence of proper context. While AGC believes that accurate reporting and recording of workplace injuries and illnesses is key to a contractor’s efforts to continuously improve their safety and health culture and performance, OSHA has not provided any supporting data to indicate that publicly disclosing this information will ultimately reduce occupational injuries and illnesses.
AGC communicated this and other concerns to OSHA during the rulemaking process.
AGC OF AMERICA VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES UPDATE
Join AGC on August 16, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. for a virtual townhall update on its climate change initiatives and discussion on carbon reporting and the construction industry. This townhall is open to AGC members and chapters. There is no charge, but you must register to reserve a seat—click here.
What’s on the Agenda? Receive staff update on AGC’s climate initiatives. Hear from AGC's Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting Task Force on its mission/scope. (Read more about the task force on AGC’s website.) Discuss how carbon reporting may impact the construction industry. Learn about upcoming engagement opportunities for those AGC members that want to get more involved. The townhall will include time for open discussion and Q&A. Please submit questions/topics in advance when you register.
AGC OF AMERICA AWARDS PROGRAMS NOW OPEN
Members can apply by October 25, 2023
AGC of America has launched the 2024 AGC Awards competitions. The Construction Risk Partners Build America Awards (including the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category) and AGC in the Communitycompetitions recognize the nation's most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions; those contractors excelling in their partnering and collaborative endeavors; and the charitable contractors and chapters giving back to their communities.
The AGC Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards recognize contractors that are champions in advancing diversity and inclusion within their workforce, subcontractor-partners, supply chain, the association, and in the communities they serve. The AGC Diverse Business of the Year competition honors an outstanding diverse AGC member-firm that is committed to achieving business success, while also contributing to the association and communities in which they work.
The AGC Innovation Awards showcases free thinkers within the construction industry to provide solutions to construction challenges we face. We are looking to inspire members of the construction industry to craft innovative solutions to pressing industry challenges.
Learn more about all of AGC of America’s awards programs here.
ECONOMIC NEWS:
Construction Employment Increases In 45 States From June 2022 To June 2023, While 33 States Add Construction Employees From May To June