Co-developed by AGC of America and Zurich, this program focuses on why soft tissue injuries occur and highlights effective methods to reduce the number of soft-tissue injuries, such as back injuries, sprains and strains and pinched nerves - and most importantly, how you can reduce them. Package includes: One-instructor guide w/PowerPoint, ten-student booklets and DVD (English and Spanish).  Item No. 203.To order go to www.agc.org/bookstore or call 1-800-242-1767.

This DVD is a must-see for all members of your management team! Features three of the most prominent labor lawyers in the construction industry explaining, in plain English, the sexual harassment rules that all managers and supervisors should follow.  38 minutes. Item No. 2301D.To order go to www.agc.org/bookstore or call 1-800-242-1767.

AGC held a regional meeting with the National Construction Alliance II (NCAII) on July 13 in Chicago, Ill.  About 50 members and staff from various collective bargaining chapters in the Mid-America Region of AGC's Executive Leadership Council attended, along with Operating Engineers General President Vince Giblin, Carpenters General President Doug McCarron, Union Contractors Committee Chairman Jim Clemens, AGC Union Contractors Committee Staff Associate Denise Gold and NCAII Executive Vice President Ray Poupore. NCAII is a partnership of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and International Union of Operating Engineers.  It is the successor to the NCA, which also included the Laborers, until they dropped out of the alliance last year and rejoined the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.  For more information on the background and activities of NCAII, click here.AGC-NCAII regional meetings are intended to provide AGC Chapters with an opportunity to communicate union contractors' local and regional concerns directly to the union leaders and to engage in a dialogue to solve problems together.  The first such meeting was held on May 28 in Philadelphia, Pa. The July 13 meeting covered a number of issues, such as shortcomings of job targeting programs, worker portability restrictions, the need to recruit more women and minority apprentices, handbilling of union construction jobs by industrial unions protesting nonunion materials, jurisdictional disputes, the inability of contractors working on National Maintenance Agreement jobs to attain waivers from restrictions on collective bargaining, and more.Contractors raised serious concerns about the state of multiemployer pension plans (MEPPs) and the viability of the current model for the future.  The economic model of MEPPs is fundamentally flawed and impedes organizing, asserted Harold Force of Force Construction Co.  "It's difficult to sign up a new contractor when he's going to sign onto an undefinable liability," he said.  McCarron and Gold reported on cooperative efforts by AGC, the Carpenters, and the Operating Engineers to seek statutory relief for troubled MEPPs, both in 2006 and at present.  McCarron stated that he favors full funding - a goal of 120% funding, in fact - of current MEPPs but opposes the conversion of defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans.  Giblin agreed.  The general presidents also agreed about the need for pension fund mergers.  Mergers may be difficult, but they provide necessary cost-savings, they said.  McCarron indicated that he is encouraging locals to push for mergers in their next round of collective bargaining negotiations.As in the May 28 meeting, the general presidents expressed interest in directly hearing about local problems in a timely manner.  Contractors should first try to resolve problems with local business agents and managers but, if unsuccessful, should bring the matter to the general presidents' attention, they indicated.The scheduling of the next AGC-NCAII regional meeting is currently underway.  Information will be announced when available.For more information, contact Denise Gold at goldd@agc.org or (703) 837-5326.

Occupational Safety and Health Standards applicable to construction (29 Code of Federal Regulations with Part 1903, 1904, 1910 and 1926). This edition is the most comprehensive and reader-friendly CFR book on the market. It has been modernized with a unique layout called RegLogic that reproduces all the regulations with:Large Color-coded HeadingsIndented Layouts in Outline FormEnhanced GraphicsReading regulations with RegLogic will help clarify each regulation and allow the user to find them faster. A must for every job site. 486 Pages. Item No. 125. To order go to www.agc.org/bookstore or call 1-800-242-1767.

Inspired by the many Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Awards, this comprehensive look at project partnering spells out the partnering process and how to manage partnering on the job with real-life testimonials and case studies. Complete with photographs, actual partnering charters, letters, evaluation forms, and observations from experts. Easy to read for the novice but with enough detail and tips for the experienced professional. 175 pages. Item No. 2902.To order go to www.agc.org/bookstore or call 1-800-242-1767.

Intended for the busy contractor, this easy-to-read handbook introduces construction risk management methodologies, contractual risk transfer, and alternative means of financing risk, experience rating, contract surety and much more. Includes a construction contract review checklist, a safety information worksheet, best practices for managing  workers compensation claims, model guidelines for insurance coverage, and a worksheet to identify and evaluate potential exposures and risks. A must-read for anyone involved in the risky business of construction. Item No. 3520.To order go to www.agc.org/bookstore or call 1-800-242-1767.

Attend AGC's Safety & Health meeting July 22-24 in Washington, D.C., and get the latest updates on congressional activity that directly effects construction safety and health. Join more than 150 industry professionals to discuss the latest concerns facing the construction industry and network with seasoned safety experts.  Participants will assist in the development of regulatory and legislative activity on a national and local level as well as new safety training programs and products.  Attendees will hear the latest initiatives from OSHA and other industry experts while also making visits to Capitol Hill.The hotel deadline is June 22.  Register at www.agc.org/safetymeeting.For more information, contact Kevin Cannon at (703) 837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org.

August 14, 2009, 8:00 am - 5:30 pm, Kansas City, Mo.Join fellow construction industry technology leaders for AGC's inaugural IT Forum Conference: The Cornerstone for Construction Innovation, brought to you by the AGC Electronic Information System (EIS) Committee. The forum will provide participants an opportunity to discuss and share best practices on some of the most pressing IT challenges facing the construction industry.Register here, or contact Fara Francis for more information at (703) 837-5302 or francisf@agc.org.

The AGC BIMForum met in Dallas May 28-29 and again proved to be the greatest venue for industry collaboration. The theme of the meeting was "BIM, Now More Than Ever: From the 30 Day to 30 Year Perspective."The presentations and discussions addressed ways to achieve immediate return on investment with BIM, how models can be created to foster greater collaboration and what owners increasingly want to see. Held in conjunction with two sessions of AGC's new BIM 101 courses, the conference had more 300 architects, contractors, engineers and software providers in attendance over three full days. The next BIMForum meeting will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., October 8-9, 2009.For more information, contact Dmitri Alferieff at (703) 837-5386 or alferieffd@agc.org.

(L-R) Carpenters Business Manager Ed Coryell, Carpenters General President Doug McCarron, Operating Engineers General President Vince Giblin, and AGC Union Contractors Committee Chairman Jim Clemens