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January 30, 2013

News for the roofing industry

Top Story

Several tools, techniques improve jobsite safety
The use of different tools to improve jobsite safety has helped contractors reduce the number of injuries in the past decade, according to this piece. Many companies use statistics from agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that track recordable injuries, as well as other benchmarks. They also use technology along with behavior modification. For instance, at PCL Enterprises in Denver, workers are encouraged to help colleagues adopt and follow safety practices. Engineering News-Record (1/29)

News & Trends

Construction employment up year-on-year in 139 of 337 metro areas
Jobs were added in 139 metro areas in the past year, while employment in 131 areas declined and 65 areas were stagnant, according to the report from the Associated General Contractors of America. Among the cities that added jobs were Wichita, Kan., and Phoenix. Florida's Tampa Bay area shed jobs, as did Portland, Ore., and Atlanta. "Contractors in some areas appear confident enough about market conditions to begin adding staff," said Stephen Sandherr, the AGC's chief executive officer. "The question is whether private sector demand will continue to grow in 2013 or stall as it has done in prior years." American City Business Journals/Phoenix (1/28), Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (1/29), American City Business Journals/Wichita, Kan. (1/28)

Roof repair sparks fire at Ohio manufacturing plant
Repair work on the rubber roof of the Lauren Manufacturing plant in New Philadelphia, Ohio, sparked a fire. The flames began when workers were fixing a section of the roof "and as they were heating it, apparently it sparked and it got out of control," said Lisa Huntsman, president of the company. The fire, which ran beneath the roofing and metal deck had to be put out from below. The Times-Reporter (Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio) (tiered subscription) (1/29)

Energy & the Environment

Brush up on green, cool roofs information
Just starting out in green roofing? Want to learn more? Networx has pulled together in one place its pieces on green roofing material, insulation and climate needs and more. Networx (1/29)

Roof of Tenn. Music City Center to feature 800+ solar panels
The roof of the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., is expected to sport 845 solar photovoltaic panels. Most of the devices have been hoisted to the roof, and installation will start on Feb. 11. The process is expected to reach completion on Mar. 18. American City Business Journals/Nashville, Tenn./Nashville Biz blog (1/29)

In the Office

Executives see collaboration as an important strategy
Two-thirds of more than 2,000 decision-makers from around the world said they had worked closely in collaboration with at least one other organization in the previous 12 months, a survey by Bank of America Merrill Lynch found. Forty-four percent said they expect they will collaborate even more over the next five years. CFO.com (1/23)

Deadline approaches for issuing tax forms to employees, subcontractors
The end of this month is the deadline for small-business owners to issue W-2 forms to their employees and 1099 forms to their freelancers and subcontractors. Being aware of your business' obligations is especially important because penalties for noncompliance have recently increased. Bloomberg Businessweek (1/24)

Government & Regulatory

Obama calls for swift action to overhaul immigration law
President Barack Obama urged Congress to move swiftly to reform immigration law, building on momentum created by a bipartisan compromise in the Senate. The 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be given a clear path to achieving citizenship, he said. The speech was part of a campaign to pressure Republicans to write the bipartisan proposal into law, a senior administration official said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/29), Las Vegas Sun (1/29), TheFiscalTimes.com (1/30)

Obama signs $50.5B Sandy-relief bill into law
The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.)/The Associated Press (1/29)

NRCA News

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