Tag: featured

Contact NERCA for Hot Works Training

In an email to those currently registered as hot works trainers, the NFPA announced that Massachusetts has recently amended their state fire prevention regulations to require anyone performing hot work to have successfully completed the NFPA program.

The NFPA also stated that they would be setting up a database for verifying who has completed the training requirements.  Starting on June 18, 2018, the database will be available at www.nfpa.org/hotwork-lookup where users can find the first and last name, city/town and state of residence, certificate number, and successful exam date. The database will not include information on people who have taken the class, but have not passed the exam or earned their certificate.

For those who have already passed the course, no action is required, but for those who haven’t, they will have until July 1, 2018 to comply.

NERCA is a certified hot works training provider with the help of Contractors Risk Management (CRM). We would be happy to offer an additional hot works course if there is sufficient interest. Courses for individual contractors may have fees associated with the use of CRM, however NERCA might also offer courses if there is sufficient interest.

If any of our members require training, please contact the Association office or email jferrante@nerca.org.

Safety Recall on MSA Gravity Welder Harnesses

 MSA a manufacturer of personal protective equipment has issued a safety recall on its Gravity Welder Harnesses.  Affected Harnesses are marked with one of the following part numbers and a manufacturing date from July 2015 through and including January 2018.

 

10151154  |  10158954  |  10158956  |  10158957

For more information, visit nerca.org  or click HERE

Changes to MA Construction Supervisor License Renewal Procedures

UPDATE: For those who need a list of Continuing Education Courses and Providers,

CLICK HERE for MA 

CLICK HERE FOR RI

 

The Association was notified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) approved certain changes to construction supervisor license continuing education requirements. These changes will become effective on January 1, 2018.

The current continuing education requirement is to complete the following amount of hours over a two year period.

  • Construction Supervisors License (CS) – 12 Hours
  • Construction Supervisors License (1-2 Family Dwellings) (CSFA) – 10 Hours
  • Construction Supervisor Specialty License (CSSL) – 6 Hours

Now there are requirements for these licenses regarding the amount of hours that must be spent on specific topical categories such as:

  • Code Review – 4 hours for CS and CSFA; 2 hours for CSSL
  • Workplace Safety – 1 hour for all
  • Business Practices – 1 hour for all
  • Energy – 1 hour for all
  • Lead Safe Practices – 1 hour for 1st renewal

In addition, there are new restrictions on the amount of training that each license category may take online. Now CS and CSFA licensees may only take a maximum of 6 hours of online continuing education for credit.  CSSL may complete all 6 hours of their training online if they wish.  However, online courses are also required to administer pop quizzes every 30 minutes and a final exam to ensure that attendees are paying attention and active on the seminar.

For more information on MA CSL and continuing education credits, please contact the Association office, or visit the Mass.gov webpage here.

New Secretary of Labor

rwstlvipyxse5y3hbws4

Donald Trump has selected Andy Puzder to serve as his Secretary of Labor.  The CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc. which owns Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s is an interesting selection by Trump who had toyed with appointing Victoria Lipnic, the current head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and a former Workforce Policy Counsel to the House.

Puzder is an interesting man, he attended Kent State, but dropped out in 1970 following the Kent State Shootings.  In his own words, “I spent the next three years attending concerts and marching on Washington”. After moving to Cleveland he graduated college and got his law degree.  As a young corporate lawyer he helped rescue Carl Karcher, founder of Carl’s Jr. from financial troubles. Years later, when CKE Restaurants fell into more financial difficulties after purchasing Hardee’s, Puzder was named CEO by the Board and tasked with turning it around.

Mr. Puzder has not been without controversy during his tenure. Franchisees overseen by CKE have been targeted by DOL in the past. Hardee’s Food Systems was found in violation of wage laws and ordered to give back pay to a group of 456 workers in 2006 and 2007. This money was owed for overtime on hourly employees. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Puzder has signaled that he opposes the Obama Overtime Rule which has already been blocked by the courts, and is most likely dead on arrival in a Trump Administration.

In addition, advocates calling for an increase in the Federal Minimum Wage will find Puzder opposes large raises of the minimum wage. $15 per hour will be out of the question because Pudzer opposed the Obama Administration attempt to raise it to $10.10 from the current $7.25.  When asked about the effect of raising the minimum wage, Mr. Puzder said it could lead to increased automation because machines are, “always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall or an age, sex or race discrimination case.”

The effect of a business executive running the labor department will be interesting to watch. Like Mr. Puzder, the Secretary of Labor has traditionally been a loyal supporter of the president, but unlike Mr. Puzder, most former Secretaries of Labor were career bureaucrats not as well versed in the corporate and financial worlds.