U.S. Customs & Border Protection have initiated a major hardwood plywood circumvention action: CBP will investigate whether a group of importers has been evading anti-dumping and countervailing duties on select hardwood plywood from China by transshipping Chinese white birch plywood though Vietnam. Evidence reviewed to date establishes a “reasonable suspicion.”
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SAN FRANCISCO — While workplace sexual harassment is prohibited by sex nondiscrimination laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stakeholders last week discussed the possibility of the U.S. Department of Labor getting involved — specifically, its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). During a panel discussion at the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section annual conference, experts considered potential OSHA involvement in that issue as well as violence and assault.
World Millwork Alliance (WMA), a global trade association representing the millwork industry, is pleased to announce the association’s 2019 Board of Directors and Officers. The WMA Board is comprised of leading millwork industry professionals from both distributor and manufacturer member companies
Some things never change, and that can be said for almost all of the entries on OSHA’s 2018 top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations list. In fact, eight of the most violated standards by all industries were on last year’s list, and the top four — fall protection, hazard communication, scaffolds and respiratory protection — have been on the list since the agency started compiling it in 2015.
These are three related developments on the OSHA front in October that have implications for employers according to a recent article in JD Supra. The first has to do with OSHA issuing guidance and interpretations which are meant to “clarify” its positions regarding the drug testing and safety incentive rules. The second recent development concerns the requirement that certain employers submit injury and illness reporting data electronically. And the third October development involved a court case that prevented OSHA from getting an inspection warrant it was seeking.
The 2018 International Green Construction Code (2018-IgCC) has been released by the International Code Council (ICC), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), ASHRAE, and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The IgCC is a model code that has wide applicability for incorporating resilient, high-performance green building strategies into building codes.
The 2018 IgCC aligns the technical requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES 189.1-2017-Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Buildings, with ICC’s multi-stakeholder IgCC. Goals of the updated code are to help governments streamline code development and adoption and improve building industry standardization by integrating the two previously separate guidance documents. As a result, the 2018 IgCC is now a unified code that emphasizes adoption, ease of use and enforcement for building projects.
After six years, many builders seem to be taken aback that interest rate increases are playing havoc with their outlook. They shouldn’t be surprised.
Falls 2 points in October to its lowest level in a year.
The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) decreased in October, falling 2.0 points to 85.7, continuing its recent downward trend. The decline can be attributed to decreases in five of the six components, including those measuring consumers’ home buying and selling attitudes.
While the new cost of mortgage financing and its impact on housing affordability is giving many prospective home buyers pause, the overall state of the economy remains positive. Following a 4.2% growth rate in the second quarter, third quarter real GDP growth came in at an annualized rate of 3.5%. This was the strongest two-quarter performance in four years.
A study from the NMHC and NAHB earlier this year found that regulation accounts for over 30% of multifamily development costs.
World Millwork Alliance (WMA) 54 TH Annual Convention & Tradeshow will hold its’ premier event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center from September 11-15, 2018. WMA will offer Veterans and Students complimentary access to the exhibit hall during Millwork Career Day on Friday, September 14, 2018 during the show hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WMA welcomes Veterans and Students to explore a career in the millwork industry. Learn from worldwide millwork professionals while viewing the finest millwork products. Meet with industry distributors and manufacturers about the opportunities in a millwork career.
Pre-registration for a name badge is available by completing a WMA Registration Form. Any local Student or Veteran who has pre-registered will pick up their complimentary “Expo – One Day Pass” with a valid student ID or Veteran ID at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
Veterans must show a Veteran’s Administration (VA) identification card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Students must show a valid Student photo I.D. card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Pre-registration is open until August 13, 2018; thereafter, registration is onsite at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
