Efficiency cuts stress and lag times thus boosting revenue, but achieving gains in this area requires planning, consultant Serenity Gibbons writes. To increase efficiency, Gibbons advises optimizing technology and warehouse management, and removing distractions.

Choosing between a sole proprietorship or a limited-liability company structure can affect financing, paperwork, taxes and legal issues. This article breaks down the pros and cons of each arrangement.

If a contractor is required to be listed on the proposal or bid for a public works project in California, that company must comply with requirements for a skilled and trained workforce and submit monthly reports, according to attorneys at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani. Companies can meet apprenticeship graduation requirements through a union or merit shop program.

Silicon Valley Mechanical has been able to improve efficiency through the use of software, such as the ICT Tracker app, while focusing on machinery upgrades to enhance productivity and efficiency. "We allow everybody here to discuss options, to discuss new technology, future tools that we may need, how we can grow as a business as well as how we can grow our culture," said Jeremy Day, operations manager.

For the ninth consecutive year, fall protection violations were the most frequently cited by OSHA. Hazard communication, scaffolding, lockout/tagout and respiratory protection violations rounded out the top 5.

Rules set down by OSHA mandate that first aid be available quickly in all work settings, and failure to ensure workplace plans meet these criteria can put employers at risk of liability when injuries occur. Analyzing hazards at each worksite and creating written guidelines for first aid procedures can help shield employers from liability while creating safer workplaces.

A free program at Toronto's George Brown College trains people for entry-level construction jobs and offers them help in entering the job market. Participants, some of whom are dealing with addiction or mental illness, get training in safety and multiple areas of construction.

Contractors remain optimistic about 2020, despite indications of a slowing economy and an ongoing struggle to find qualified labor, AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson says. Demand for pipelines, renewables, data centers and last-mile warehouses should remain robust, but construction of medical facilities and infrastructure might lag, economists say.

Help Us Generate a Comprehensive Outlook for 2020 by Taking the Survey Today

Each year around this time, AGC asks you -- our members -- to predict what next year will be like for your business. AGC has partnered with Sage to prepare questions that focus on expectations for market performance, hiring, labor market conditions, etc. Please take a moment to complete the survey.