Information about obtaining and renewing a Massachusetts contractor’s license.
The year 2017 was a costly one for the U.S. thanks to two of the strongest hurricanes to strike the nation this century. Together, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused over $215 billion in damages. Just as homeowners make plans for approaching storms, so should construction supervisors engage in preparations designed to protect their job sites…
This month marks the 120-year anniversary of the unveiling of the first radio-controlled device. In September of 1898 at Madison Square Garden, engineer Nikola Tesla demonstrated his state-of-the-art invention which he called “teleautomaton,” a miniature boat which he could control using radio signals. Many who witnessed the event suspected the boat was actually being powered…
Think theft and vandalism isn’t a problem in the construction industry? Think again. According to the FBI, more than 11,500 pieces of heavy equipment were swiped from construction sites in 2016. When you combine that with tool theft, machine vandalism, and other related crimes, such activity results in over a billion dollars in losses annually…
What single piece of heavy equipment might you find at practically every construction site – be it large or small, privately- or government-funded, or any type of project? These days, the answer might be a compact track loader (CTL). They’re versatile, mobile, and affordable – which is why they comprise almost 20 percent of all…
Question: Does the U.S. construction industry have a productivity problem or a safety problem? Answer: Yes. You might already know that about one out of every five workplace deaths in America occurs in the construction industry. According to OSHA, almost 5,200 construction workers died in 2016, which comes out to more than 14 deaths each calendar…
Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “Managing construction projects would be pretty easy if everything worked like it should and everyone did their job like they were supposed to.” If you’re a construction supervisor who has heard this, you might have thought to yourself, Sure. And driving in the rain would be much safer if the…
As a construction supervisor, are you aware of any of your workers taking some painkillers or “energy pills” while on the job? Have you heard rumors of some employees smoking a joint, drinking a beer, or taking a shot of whiskey on their breaks? If so, your site may be susceptible to the severe consequences…
“How’s work been lately?” Construction managers hear this question all the time, and there are dozens of different ways they can answer it – from “More projects and more jobs,” to “Higher prices for supplies due to tariffs.” Of course, the true answer is much more complex. So let’s take a quick snapshot of the…
On this blog, you’ve read about two different categories of hazards posed by overhead cranes. You’ve learned about the potential problems that electrical lines and power sources can cause as well as the risks of overloading a crane lift. But there’s a third class of overhead crane danger which should concern everyone who owns a…
It’s understandable for construction supervisors to be eager to break ground on a new project. But before the temporary lights come on and the power tools start whirring, there has to be adequate electricity available for the work to proceed. This can present a challenge, especially if the job site sits far away from existing…