Eastern Contractors Association News Newswire

15 Tips To Prepare Your Crews for the Heat

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

With temperatures hitting their summer highs, ensuring the safety of your construction workers becomes a top priority. But what can you do?

Workers in the heat will need adequate shade and extra breaks. Sometimes, crew leaders can send some team members to work in less hot areas of a structure. By implementing such administrative controls—adjusting work schedules and relocating workers—contractors can minimize the risk of heat-related incidents.

Fundamentally, preparing for the heat means being flexible and taking proactive steps to keep workers safe. Here are 15 ideas you can put into practice today.

Identify your high-priority job sites by their potential for heat exposure.

Hold biweekly meetings with supervisors.
Provide cooling liners for helmets.
Distribute electrolyte packets.
Work earlier in the day.
Rotate work areas.
Rotate tasks.
Provide training.
Keep on top of the weather.
Ban energy drinks.
Have heat programs and plans.
Talk with the GC/CM.
Talk with the other trades.
Monitor the heat index.
Bring in more eyes.

Managing job site safety during the summer requires a combination of proactive planning, effective communication and a commitment to prioritizing the welfare of workers.

By implementing practical measures, employers can create safe and productive work environments. They can navigate the challenges of the summer heat with confidence and ensure their most valuable assets — their workers — remain protected. --AWCI

Click here to read more about the 15 ideas above.

Reminder: Holiday Office Hours

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Eastern Contractors Association, Inc. will be closed next Friday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day. If you need assistance with an important issue during that time, please call Todd Helfrich, 518-479-9710 or Laura Regan 518-496-4000.

Why Cybersecurity Matters for Construction

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting construction firms, drawn by large financial assets and tight project timelines, rendering both large and small projects vulnerable.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has spurred more projects, amplifying cyber risks as firms digitize, which creates new attack vectors. Sophisticated tactics like phishing — through email, voice and SMS messages — exploit weak passwords, a lack of multifactor authentication and careless data sharing.

Construction companies must prioritize cyber hygiene to safeguard data and projects, as well as cyber insurance to protect themselves in case an attack breaks through their defenses.

Click here to read more from ConstructionDive where attorney Jason Kosek shares his insights in a new article and covers these topics:

Why construction is attractive, and vulnerable
Consequences of a cyber attack or data breach
How builders can protect themselves
Purchase cyber insurance