OSHA's upcoming coronavirus vaccine requirement for companies with at least 100 employees and federal contractors will probably overrule Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on such mandates in the state, according to Trent Cotney, CEO of Cotney Attorneys & Consultants. President Joe Biden issued the federal requirement in September.

The National Roofing Contractors Association has asked the Department of Energy to take several steps to relieve supply chain problems that are hurting the availability of roofing materials. "Providing urgently needed repairs to many homes, schools, hospitals, and other vital buildings in many parts of the nation depend on swift action of both the private and public sectors working together to address this emergency," the NRCA says.

Hackers are increasingly targeting construction-related companies, and now is the time to address cybersecurity, according to Brian Lapidus, global practice leader for risk consulting firm Kroll's Identity Theft and Breach Notification practice. Lapidus reviews 11 tips to step up cyberprotection, beginning with finding and keeping experts and legal counsel on file for quick access if needed.

September construction starts minus the residential category rose 12.7% from the previous month to $38 billion, ConstructConnect reported. Starts a year-to-year basis were up 31.1%, largely due to three projects valued at more than $1 billion apiece, including an $8 billion Intel plant in Arizona.

The Yoo Forest House in England's Cotswolds region features a flat roof with timber sections that overhang the exterior areas. The single-story, pavilion-style house enables its residents to "sit inside the space and reach out to the woodland," architect Hugo Fitzgerald says.

The HiLo building in Switzerland has a curved roof that was built with a minimal amount of concrete, helping curb carbon emissions. "To save large amounts of formwork material, the roof was built using a flexible formwork consisting of a tensioned cablenet covered with a thin membrane onto which the concrete was sprayed," researchers at university ETH Zurich said.

Income generated through peer-to-peer platforms, such as Zelle, Venmo and CashApp, must be reported to the IRS. Third-party digital payment companies must issue IRS 1099-K forms to small businesses that were paid on their platforms, with different sales thresholds in different states, but in 2022 that threshold will be $600 per year for all states.

A growing number of companies are investing in apprenticeship programs to minimize the disadvantages for potential employees without a four-year college degree -- something more than half of working-age adults in the US lack. For example, consulting firm Accenture started an apprenticeship program in 2016 and now has hired 1,200 apprentices in dozens of cities across the US.

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has submitted draft text of a rule that would require workers at companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or agree to regular testing. The rule, which will now undergo White House review, would affect 80 million US workers.

The American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention has responded to the Commerce Department's request to disclose the identities of its members with a new filing refusing to do so, and arguing such disclosure would make its members susceptible to retaliation from Beijing. A-SMACC is still urging the Commerce Department to investigate solar imports from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, which could result in additional tariffs opposed by the Solar Energy Industries Association and other groups.

This award is presented to a company that has developed or introduced an ingenious, non-traditional and innovative product or service that has significantly disrupted the industry.