Monthly Archives: July 2013

NEW FINAL RULE ON SIGNAGE ISSUED BY OSHA

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in OSHA Safety Issues on Jul 17, 2013.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule to update construction signage standards recently.The new regulation adds references to the latest versions of the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, on accident prevention with signs and tags. 

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NEW REGULATIONS COMING ON WATER CONTAMINANTS

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Uncategorized on Jul 16, 2013.

The Engineering News Record recently reported that the push on public health concerns and environmental issues has caused the Environmental Protection Agency to begin imposing more stringent rules on the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants in drinking water. The American Water Works Association indicates it expects even more regulations in the industry soon as the EPA races to get them out before President Obama leaves office in 2016.

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Philly Building Collapse Update

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Construction Industry News on Jul 15, 2013.

The Pennsylvania state legislature is now getting involved in the building collapse case in Philadelphia. Two state house committees will be holding hearings on the accident to evaluate how building codes impact demolition work and whether changes to the code can prevent the type of accidents that occurred in this instance. Both the Labor & Industry and Urban Affairs Committees will hold hearings on Tuesday at 1:00 at the Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.

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Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference Announced

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in OSHA Safety Issues on Jul 15, 2013.

The dates for Pennsylvania’s annual conference on safety in the construction industry have been announced. The Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference, now in its 67th year, will take place at Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on October 28th and October 29th. The agenda for the conference is wide ranging and covers safety topics from aerial lifts to power tools to industrial hygiene.

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Hotel Construction On The Rise In U.S., Philadelphia

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Construction Industry News on Jul 11, 2013.

There is good news for the construction industry in a recent report by economist Anirban Basu. The performance of hotels in the United States has improved over the last 12 months. As a result, more hotels are being built or renovated. More specifically, Philadelphia is among the improved cities with regard to occupancy rates with a 21% increase.

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OSHA Promoting Program For Safe Work In Hot Weather

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in OSHA Safety Issues on Jul 9, 2013.

With summer in full swing and the work weeks filling up with sweltering conditions for outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is renewing its emphasis on its “Water. Rest. Shade.” program. The informational effort is designed to warn workers about how heat stress occurs and, better yet, how to recognize the signs and prevent it.

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CITY OF PHILADELPHIA DEBARS SUBCONTRACTOR BASED ON MINORITY PARTICIPATION VIOLATIONS

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Current Events in Construction on Jul 3, 2013.

A subcontractor debarred by the City of Philadelphia has lost its legal fight to dispute the debarment for violations of minority participation rules. The City previously debarred JHK, Inc., because it had allegedly misrepresented its minority work volume. JHK formally disputed the debarment and its claim was heard by a special Debarment Panel under the auspices of the City Finance Department.

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STATE REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION IMPOSING IMPACT FEE ON NEW DEVELOPMENT TO FUND TRANSPORTAION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Pending Legislation on Jul 2, 2013.

State Representative Scott Petri (R. Bucks) is pushing legislation that would impose an impact fee on new development in order to fund capital improvements in the transportation sector. House Bill No. 148 (former HB 454) seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code so that municipalities and school districts can development impact fees upon new developments – residential, commercial and industrial alike.

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CITY OF PHILADELPHIA CRACKING DOWN ON DBE ENFORCEMENT

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Construction Industry News on Jul 1, 2013.

The fact that contractors working in the City of Philadelphia have routinely used work-arounds to get work classified as minority-owned, woman-owned, or disabled-owned is among the construction world’s worst kept secrets. One of the strategies – hiring businesses that qualify for DBE contracts and using them as a pass-through – recently came under serious scrutiny by the City. In an effort to crack down on what City officials argue is an abuse of the system, the Office of Inspector General has started to investigate more claims. It also recently identified and cited a number of prime contractors for violating the DBE rules. One contractor, William H. Betz, Inc., was the center of recent attention.

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