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September 6, 2014 • Vol. IX • No. 18 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215/885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215/885-2910
Inside
WSDOT Earthquake-Proofs Ferry Terminal By Lori Lovely
CEG Visits ALLU HQ in Finland...8
Firm Celebrates 100 Years With ‘Toro Day’...14
Alex Lyon Hosts Houston Sale...58
CEG CORRESPONDENT
PCH Construction Photo
One of the treasured memories many Washington state tourists fondly recall is the 35-minute ferry boat ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island, where they can bicycle or wander amongst shops, art galleries, wineries, restaurants and a public garden. Referred to by the locals as “the boat,” it — along with Washington’s other ferries — is the most popular tourist attraction in the state.
This project will improve safety during an earthquake by retrofitting the building to current design codes.
Terminal Repair To ensure that future tourists can share the recollections of crossing the Sound by ferry and enjoying the island, Washington State Ferries is retrofitting the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal building to enhance earthquake safety, upgrade the public restrooms and replace many aging building components. Built in 1955, the existing terminal building does not meet current seismic design codes, other building codes or energy efficiency guidelines, according to Hadley Rodero, Washington State Department of Transportation ferries division communications. “The public restrooms are inadequate and do not meet American Disabilities Act guidelines. The exterior walls of the terminal building will be stronger.” The Washington State Legislature identified this as an important project due to the age of the building and its seismic instability. With feder-
al funds totaling $1.69 million and state funds of $3 million, for a total budget of $4.7 million, it was let for bids in August 2013. The contract was awarded to PHC Construction of Bainbridge Island in November 2013 and work began in January this year. The project is expected to be complete by September 2014. This project will improve safety during an earthquake by retrofitting the building to current design codes, Rodero said. “The main pubsee FERRY page 34
Table of Contents ............4 Underground Utility, Trenchers, Trench Boxes & Utilities Section ....31-37 Paving Section ..........43-51 Auction Section ........54-61 Business Calendar ........56 Advertisers Index ..........62
OSHA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Injury Tracking Rule The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will extend the comment period on the proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses to Oct. 14, 2014. The proposal, published on Nov. 8, 2013, would amend the
agency’s recordkeeping regulation to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information that employers are already required to keep. During the public meeting held on the proposal, many participants expressed concern
that the proposal may create motivation for employers to under-record injuries and illnesses, since each covered establishment’s injury and illness data would become publicly available on OSHA’s Web site. Participants also see OSHA page 60
July Industry Employment Increases Construction firms added jobs in 39 states from July 2013 to July 2014 and in 34 states from June to July, according to an analysis Aug. 18 of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the employment gains are good news, but that the pipeline of skilled craft workers, supervisors and other employees appears to be emptying rapidly. “The overall trend in construction employment has been very consistent in 2014, with more than three-fourths of states adding jobs each month on a year-over-year basis,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, growing numbers of consee JOBS page 40