The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a new interactive training tool to help small businesses effectively identify hazards in the workplace. Employers and workers can virtually explore how to identity common workplace hazards in the manufacturing and construction industries. Users of the new training tool will learn not only hazard identification skills but also learn about hazard abatement and control.

"Hazard identification is a critical part of creating an injury and illness prevention program that will keep workers safe and healthy on the job," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "This new tool not only educates employers about how to take control of their workplaces and protect workers, it also demonstrates that following well-established safety practices is also good for the bottom line." Assistant Secretary Michaels announced the new tool at the American Society of Safety Engineers conference in Orlando, Florida.

Recently, Governor Branstad vetoed SF 2363 bill that would have spent a portion of the remaining budget balance surplus.  During the session, the Governor did warn that he did not want to see a remaining balance bill be developed and wanted the Legislature to rather find available funding in the existing budget structure.  The Governor noted in his veto message that though the ending balance is relatively healthy, future projections show a decline in revenues.

He also exercised his veto pen to scratch planning and design funding for three Regents projects.  In his line-item veto message of SF 2349, Governor Branstad refused to provide initial funding for the following three projects - University of Iowa for the renovation of the Pharmacy Building; Iowa State University's construction of the Biosciences Building; and renovation of the Schindler Education Center at the University of Northern Iowa. 

Also in his line-item veto message of SF 2349, the Governor struck $10 million major maintenance projects at the Department of Administrative Services (DAS).  However, there remains $14 million in additional funding for major maintenance purposes.

July 15, 2014

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Presented By:

Haley Van Loon, Brown Winick Law Firm

This webinar, offered free to MBI members, will provide an overview of Iowa law regarding workplace drug testing. Topics addressed will include: drug testing policies, employee assistance programs and supervisor training. This webinar will also cover the various requirements of drug testing, including how to administer a drug testing program and what to do in the wake of positive test results. 

CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

The Construction Update Plan Room Network covering Iowa, Western Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota and other selected areas of nearby states, has advertising space available. This is an opportunity for you to place your advertisement in a paper that is only viewed by companies with direct ties to the construction industry.

The Construction Update newspaper reaches 800 General Contractors, Architects, Engineers, Specialty Contractors and Suppliers on a weekly basis. This equates to your product and/or service being advertised fifty-two times a year!  This is one of the most effective and efficient methods of targeting the construction market!

CLICK HERE to view advertising rates. For questions or to place your ad, contact Emily Layton at (515) 657-4380 or elayton@mbionline.com.