Being a mechanical contractor in today’s market is as challenging as it has ever been. Technology and innovation are evolving at a rapid pace and it is imperative that we make every effort to assure all of our people are trained and educated to keep pace. This particularly holds true for your field personnel who are on the front lines daily. MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference will provide them with the training they need.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised its standard for electrical safety in the workplace. NFPA 70E – 2018 requires affected employers to establish a written program for electrical safety in the workplace. MCAA’s Model Electrical Safety in the Workplace Program can be quickly and easily tailored to meet your company’s specific electrical safety applications.

Make sure your service techs have the up-to-date safety training they need to protect themselves from arc flash and electrical shock hazards while working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The session covers all applicable OSHA requirements, NFPA 70E-2018 provisions, best practices, and real-world accident information.

Our latest bulletin covers potential approaches MCAA members can consider in attempting to recover price increases on steel and aluminum resulting from the Administration’s recently imposed tariffs. It also includes a sample price escalation clause for future contracts. This bulletin is an example of how we are striving to make MCAA’s Management Methods Manual a more timely resource for MCAA members. Other recent Bulletins cover topics such as “2017 Tax Reform: Consideration for Mechanical Contractors” and “The Next Generation of Data Security.” These newer Bulletins are not only available to our members as PDFs; they are also found in MCAA’s new WebBook Library on our website.

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Faced with the possibility of losing money on a building expansion project, Braconier Mechanical and Plumbing found that using Viega products was an easy way to trim costs. The ease of installation with the Viega press approach cut installation time dramatically, bringing costs back under control. In addition, Viega turned out to be a better choice for a job where the original specs called for threading pipe.

Introducing MCAA’s newest safety resource… Model Lockout/Tagout Program for Electrical Safety. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised its standard for electrical safety in the workplace. The most current version of the standard is NFPA 70E – 2018. This version imposes a new requirement concerning lockout/tagout of electrical energy sources. Affected employers must now establish a written lockout/tagout program specifically for electrical safety.

The construction industry’s multiemployer defined benefit pension system is showing signs of resilience, according to the recently revised Inventory of Construction Industry Pension Plans, MCAA and Horizon Actuarial Services’ groundbreaking analysis of historical trends in pension plans’ key operating data. Roughly 75% of all construction industry multiemployer plans are projected to be fully funded within 15 years according to the inventory, which is based on the annual reports (Form 5500) filed with the Labor and Treasury Departments for Plan Years 2006 through 2015.

In response to a request from the MCAA Board of Directors following discussion of the stalled legislative proposal allowing new Composite Plan options, Horizon Actuarial Services provided an in-depth analysis of Alternative Retirement Plan Designs. The report, authored by actuaries Cary Franklin and Jonathan Feldman, offers a general risk-factor analysis for plan trustees to consider in any more in-depth analysis of particular plan circumstances and plan design options. It focuses on six areas: 1) traditional defined benefit (DB) plans; 2) variable DB plans; 3) cash balance plans; 4) money purchase plans; 5) profit sharing plans; and, 6) proposed new composite plans (not yet enacted into law). Cary Franklin will be making a presentation on this analysis at the National Issues Conference.

Construction Safety Week is an annual industry wide-education and awareness event. The Mission of Safety Week is to, “collectively raise the awareness of the construction industry’s continuing commitment to eliminating worker injury, and to clearly communicate its dedication to a shared culture of care and concern and the belief that every week must be Safety Week.” For MCAA Construction Safety Week is a year-long commitment.

MCAA members can now access some of our more recent bulletins on current topics from their desktop computers on our new WebBook platform. You will be able to read new Management Methods Bulletins, take notes, print sections, and share with colleagues. And most importantly, when we have updated content, unlike a downloaded pdf, our WebBooks will be updated behind the scenes while your notes are preserved securely on your computer.

The MCAA-sponsored 2017 Construction Technology Report by JBKnowledge took an in-depth look at how the construction industry utilizes technology, software and IT. This week, MCAA released an “MCAA Focused” Report that analyzed the responses of MCAA and MSCA members. It looked at how MCAA members use and estimate BIM costs, track productivity, and emerging tech tools.