VPPAC.or | Voluntary Protection Program Association for Construction | Safety Zone Newsletter Spring 2009
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Spring 2009
Voluntary Protection Program Association for Construction - Spring 2009 Safety Zone Newsletter
 
  In this Issue   
  
Top stories
Stimulus and infrastructure Update
In the Safety Zone
 What's happening in Washington
Technology & Business
Resources & Best Practices
VPPAC.org Final Thoughts
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  Top Stories   
  
  Stimulus and Infrastructure Update   

  • Obama Cites ASCE Data in FY 2010 Budget Proposal
    President Barack Obama released an outline of his Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal. In the president's introductory remarks for his presentation of the $3.55 trillion budget proposal, he cites ASCE's 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure http://www.asce.org/reportcard as the reason the nation needs to invest in infrastructure for our continued health, welfare, and economic viability. "Too many of our nation's railways, highways, bridges, airports, and neighborhood streets are not keeping up with the needs of our nation due to lack of investment and strategic long term planning. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives our country's infrastructure the grade of a 'D'," he said in the release. Obama went on to say, "The unsatisfactory condition and operational performance of our roads and bridges carries real costs from billions of dollars in car repairs to wasted fuel and time." Read portions of the FY 2010 budget (pdf).

    The President's complete budget proposal will be released at the end of April. 
    Source: ASCE Government Relations

  • Obama Signs Recovery Legislation, Praises the Work of Engineers
    This from the ASCE Feb. 20 newsletter: "President Barack Obama this week signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. The economic stimulus plan includes about $100 billion in infrastructure investments. A summary of those investments is available on ASCE's Our Failing Infrastructure Blog. Included in the law are provisions for oversight and accountability to ensure the funds spent are meeting intended goals, a key part of ASCE's Principles for Infrastructure Stimulus Investment.

    "The public will be able to track the progress of the stimulus online at a new website: http://www.recovery.gov . The Office of Management and Budget this week issued a guidance memo outlining the procedures federal agencies must use to undertake stimulus projects. Among information that must be submitted to recovery.gov are weekly status updates and monthly financial reports.

    "In an interview with National Journal about his upcoming legislative priorities, President Obama signaled his intention to continue focusing on infrastructure policy. His plans for the upcoming surface transportation authorization include major program reforms and a new effort to reduce energy consumption. To finance new infrastructure projects, the president reaffirmed his support of the Infrastructure Bank Act, legislation that was originally introduced in the 110th Congress to create a government entity that loans funds for infrastructure projects of national significance. He went on to say, "The idea of an infrastructure bank I think makes sense -- the idea that we get engineers and not just elected officials involved in thinking about and planning how we're spending these dollars... I think there should be some way for us to just think about how we can rationalize the process to get the most bang for the buck, because the needs are massive and we can't do everything."

    "ASCE supports and encourages engineers to engage in the public policy process and one of the Five Key Solutions offered in the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure is to develop national, state, and regional infrastructure plans."

  • ASCE Opposes Administration Budget Proposal Jeopardizing Transportation Investment
    A provision in the president's proposed FY 2010 budget blueprint is being strongly opposed by ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers). The provision would change the way contract authority is scored and would eliminate the "firewall" around highway, transit and aviation funding. If adopted, transportation funds held in dedicated trust funds would be handled in the same manner as general revenue in the appropriations process as transportation outlays and budget authority would be treated as discretionary and not as mandatory contract authority. If it becomes a discretionary item, transportation would be forced to compete with other domestic programs for the cash from the transportation-related trust funds.

    ASCE is not alone in its opposition. Shortly after the budget blueprint was sent to Capitol Hill, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, James Oberstar (D-MN), issued a statement blasting the proposal. Oberstar, along with 13 other Representatives and Senators signed a joint letter to President Obama and the House and Senate Budget Committees voicing their opposition to the proposal and to any other budget process reform that fails to recognize the unique nature of Trust-Funded programs. Click here to read the Congressional response to the President's trust fund proposal.

    Because breaking down the firewalls and eliminating mandatory contracting authority would result in having to fund multi-year projects on a year by year basis, virtually all transportation related groups oppose the proposal. Source: ASCE

  • ASCE Webinar on the Economic Stimulus Now Available Online Hear about the infrastructure provisions of the just-passed economic stimulus package - the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The webinar features speakers from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and ASCE.

    View the webinar on ASCE's Government Relations website. Supplemental materials on ARRA are also available on ASCE's website.
      

 In the Safety Zone  
  What's Happening in Washington

  • Solis Confirmed as Labor Secretary
    Secretary Hilda Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor on Feb. 24, 2009. Prior to confirmation as Secretary of Labor, Secretary Solis was a representative in the state of California from 2001 to 2009.

  • Notes from NIOSH
    Christine M. Branche, Ph.D., Acting Director, NIOSH wrote about the challenges of an aging workforce in a recent NIOSH eNews article.
     
    "Except for Benjamin Button and Peter Pan, we all get older. In the U.S. and indeed around the world, this fact of life presents an array of challenges for occupational safety and health professionals, centered on the aging of the workforce." Read Christine's article about the unique challenges of this changing demographic.

  • 2009 NAOSH Week
    The 2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH) Week is coming up on May 3-9, 2009.  OSHA is joining with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and more than 50 other OSHA Alliance and other cooperative program participants are supporting the 2009 NAOSH Week. This year’s theme is “Safety Means Always Coming Home.” Sponsored annually by ASSE and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, NAOSH Week helps raise awareness of the importance of preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.    The attached flier provides information about NAOSH Week and how organizations can support it. We encourage you to share the flier with your colleagues and downstream customers and to help us spread the word about 2009 NAOSH Week as part of our efforts together through the OSHA’s cooperative programs.

  Technology & Business 

  • VPPAC.org's take on technology
    Now is NOT the time to abandon technology. Even with cost cutting driving many decisions, investing in new technology or shifting from in-house software to online applications may save money in the long run.  So don't abandon your technology strategy...be smart.

    What else is hot? Social media. Blogs. Twittering. Facebook. RSS feeds. If you haven't jumped in yet... it's time. Look for VPPAC.org to do more in this arena in coming months. And in case you're already twittering, find out why you should retweet.

  • Employee engagement can make, break a business
    Managers have no control over the broader economy, but they can influence how engaged employees feel with companies. In bad times, the emotional connection employees have with their employers can make the difference in whether a business survives, says James K. Harter, chief scientist of workplace management and well-being for Gallup. Gallup Management Journal.
    Source: NFIB SmartBrief, February 25, 2009

  • Economic Reality: Extreme Job Cuts in February for the Nonresidential Construction Industry
    Jobs in the nation’s nonresidential construction industry fell by 16,800 in February, according to the March 6 report by the U.S. Labor Department. This comes one month after the industry suffered its deepest drop in employment in more than 20 years. Employment in this sector now stands at 764,400. Since February 2008, the nonresidential building construction industry has lost 78,300 jobs or 9.3 percent of its workforce. Total private construction employment, which includes specialty trade contractors, fell by 104,000 jobs for the month and 826,000 from a year ago.

    Overall, national employment dropped by 651,000 in this short month, 1,987,000 in the past three months, and 4,168,000 on a year-over-year basis. The unemployment rate is now 8.1 percent – the highest since December 1983.   “Incredibly, the employment report could have been worse had February had more days,” said Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Last month had roughly 10 percent fewer days than January. “On that basis alone, monthly job numbers can be expected to deteriorate in the months ahead,” added Basu. “Meanwhile, over the course of February, the credit crunch actually seemed to worsen and additional wealth was lost in the financial and real estate markets. Source: Associated Builders and Contractors
  Resources & Best Practices 

  • Tom Peters: 48 tips for a successful business strategy
    Say thank you. Smile. Apologize. These are just three of the 48 tips from Tom Peters who believes that "the number one 'strategic strength' is excellence in execution and systemic relationships (i.e., with everyone we come in contact with.)" In a recent blog post he offers "48 pieces of advice for creating a winning strategy that is inherently sustainable."

  • ASSE Launches New Government Affairs Website
    On February 20, ASSE launched an updated Government Affairs website with new resources to help its members become more involved in Government Affairs on the state level. The website contains new resources designed to break-down the advocacy process step-by-step and make it as approachable as possible. Check out this new resource. Questions? Comments? Contact Dave Heidorn, JD, Manager, Gov’t Affairs and Policy, American Society of Safety Engineers

  • New Newsletter: NORA Construction Sector Council
    As part of NIOSH, the NORA Construction Sector Council initiated an electronic newsletter. The first issue focuses on the availability of a draft National Construction Agenda for public comment.   They would be very interested in receiving comments from VPPAC.org members, supporters and interested parties on these draft goals. Questions or comments? Contact Matt Gillen, CIH
    Senior Scientist, Coordinator, NIOSH Construction Program at 202-245-0651 or mgillen@cdc.gov

  VPPAC.org Final Thoughts 

  • Even brides feeling the economic pinch

    Recession means brides are feeling the economic pinch. What do the construction industry and the bridal industry have in common? Both are cutting back, which for some means accepting a smaller cake or a smaller project backlog. According to The Wedding Report, a Tucson, Ariz.-based research firm, the average amount couples are spending on a wedding is expected to drop by about $6,000. In 2008 the average price for a wedding rang in at $21,814. (That's down from $27,490 in 2007.) Read the CNNMoney article.

    		Brides getting pinched too

  • VPPAC.org Website: A valuable resource for safety professionals
    Have you visited the VPPAC.org web site recently? Our site is dedicated to helping safety and health professionals IN THE CONSTRUCTION industry. You'll find links to best practices, goods and services, and valuable safety resources. Coming next... a members-only portal and a blog. We are open to your suggestions on how to make our site even better. Please contact us at info@vppac.org.

    Visit www.vppac.org 

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