News from PCCA
PCCA Stands in Opposition to OSHA Tracking Rule, Spotlights Privacy Concerns
PCCA stands with many others in construction and other industries in opposing OSHA’s revisions to the Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule. Unfortunately, this new rule, which reverses beneficial changes made in 2019, puts back into effect and expands upon harmful provisions that put employees and their employers at risk by forcing them to make public sensitive information about their employees and their workplace.
Safe + Sound Week!
It’s time to sign up to participate in Safe + Sound Week! Safe + Sound Week will be held from August 7-13, 2023. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event for workplaces to recognize and improve their safety and health programs.
Safe + Sound Week 2023 will provide resources for businesses on mental health and well-being because we recognize that workplace safety and health extends beyond physical hazards. More resources on mental health will be added to the Safe + Sound Week webpage as the week approaches. Stay tuned!
PCCA Journal - 2023 Q2 - Available
The latest edition of the PCCA Journal is in the mail but you can avoid the wait by reading it online.
Featured in this issue: Members Bring Top Industry Issues to Capitol Hill, USDA Announces $11 Billion Investment to Advance Clean Energy Across Rural America, PCCA Applauds Introduction of the Bipartisan Dignity Act ...and more.
The PCCA Journal is portable and optimized for reading on your phone or tablet.
PCCA Announces 2023-24 Scholarship Winners
During the 78th Annual PCCA Convention in Miami Beach, Fla., the PCCA Education & Research Foundation announced the recipients of its 2023-2024 scholarships:
$10,000 PCCA Scholarships
These 4-year, $10,000 scholarships are open to the children and other dependents of PCCA-member employees.
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Gavin Baltes, Falls Church, Va., Mechanical Engineering (Mears Group)
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Connor Keenan, Waunakee, Wis., Mechanical Engineering (Infrasource)
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Jack McDermott, St. Charles, Ill., Construction Engineer (Dura-Line)
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Caitlynn Wohlford, Bonney Lake, Wash., Undecided/STEM (LTS Managed Technical Services)
$1,000 “Who Will Do the Work?” Scholarships
These $1,000 scholarships are open to students at PCCA-affiliated community colleges and technical schools.
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Ethan Rentel, Utility Systems Technician
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Garrett Mason, Utility Systems Construction
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Todd Bobo, Utility Systems Technician
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Julius Sharrow, Assoc. of Applied Science in Utility Systems
More information about the PCCA Education & Research Foundation and the scholarship program is available at the Foundation website.
PCCA Member Appointed to Safety Advisory Committee
US Department of Labor announces 15 members of Advisory Committee on Construction Safety, Health
WASHINGTON – Matthew Compher, VP Safety, Health, Environmental & Training at PCCA member Quanta Services Inc. has been appointed to a two-year term on the US Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.
The committee provides advice and assistance to the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health on Construction Safety Act-related policy matters and the setting of construction standards. The announcement from the Department of Labor can be viewed here.
PCCA Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Dignity Act
May 25, 2023 - Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.) introduced an updated version of the Dignity Act this week to address our nation’s broken immigration system. The Power & Communication Association and its members fully support this legislation as a strong yet fair way to address the critical worker shortage that significantly impedes our industry and the American economy.
"PCCA members work every day to close the digital divide and strengthen America's power grid, but we desperately need workers to finish the job," PCCA Chairman Ed Campbell, Quanta Services, said. "The Dignity Act is a well-balanced, common-sense approach that addresses all the immigration challenges. It tackles the workforce issue while also investing billions in border security measures, overhauling our failed asylum processes, and improving the legal immigration system."
US Department of Labor Announces More Than $12M in Grant Funding Available for Worker Safety, Health Training Grants
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of more than $12.7 million in funding to make more good jobs available to the U.S. workforce by supporting training initiatives designed to promote safe and healthy in the nation’s workplaces.
PCCA 2023 Convention Review
Photos
Photos from the 2023 convention are now available under the Members Only menu of the PCCA website. Look under the Members Only menu for the Photo Gallery link.
Presentations
If you missed one of the sessions, read it here. Convention Presentations are available in the Members Only area of this site. Look for the Education link after you've logged in.
If you missed it, you can also take a look at the convention Program & Auction Catalog.
PCCA Journal - 2023 Q1 - Available
The latest edition of the PCCA Journal is in the mail but you can avoid the wait by reading it online.
Featured in this issue: A look at how VUCA in Electric and Broadband Markets Creates Opportunities; Congress Considers Legislation to Exempt Broadband Grants from Taxation; Preconstruction: The Foundation in Operational Excellence ...and more.
The PCCA Journal is portable and optimized for reading on your phone or tablet.
PCCA 78th Convention Schedule & Auction Catalog
Program Schedule & Auction Catalog
PCCA 2023 Convention
March 3 - 8, 2023
Nobu Hotel at Eden Roc
Miami Beach, Florida
Advisory Committee on Construction Safety to Meet
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health on March 1, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
PCCA Says New WOTUS Rule Jeopardizes Broadband & Power Grid Goals
A new EPA rule on Waters of the U.S. will slow utility construction work and delay the nation's goals of universal broadband access and a stronger, more reliable power grid, according to the Power & Communication Contractors Association.
"The Power and Communication Contractors Association strongly opposes the EPA's recently announced final rule on Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR)," the association said in a statement. "PCCA members across the country are working tirelessly to expand access to high-speed broadband, modernize and strengthen our nation's electric grid, and provide the essential workforce for these and many other critical infrastructure projects. However, burdensome federal regulations and policies have slowed work and jeopardize the goals set by the Biden administration to achieve universal access to broadband and a modern electric grid within the next decade. Instead of critical permitting reforms and similar regulatory updates, this decision rolls back positive changes made during the last administration. With a case affecting WOTUS regulations pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, this decision injects confusion into what should be a busy year of construction. PCCA urges the Biden administration to roll back this regulation as soon as possible and asks the new 118th Congress to make construction permitting reform a top priority."
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