Things To Do In SW Florida

 

What do flying debris, airborne dust, and shattering glass have in common?

 

They can all cause eye injuries.

 

It’s no surprise that the construction industry ranks second among occupations with the highest rate of eye injuries, given the number of potential hazards that workers face each day.

 

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, three out of every five eye injuries in the workplace happen to individuals who are not wearing eye protection. More than 20,000 eye injuries occur at work each year, and reportedly cost an estimated $300 million in lost productivity, medical bills, and workers’ compensation claims.

 

The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains safety standards for eye and face protection; in most cases, personal protective eyewear is mandatory at job sites. Safety glasses with side shields are required for environments in which concrete, metal, and wood particles are in the air.

 

Here are a few tips for picking the right pair of safety glasses and staying safe at work: read more

 

You’ve just received a license from Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and you’re ready to get to work. But before you step onto your next job site, are your feet properly protected?

 

Picking the right boots will keep your feet safe, comfortable, and could even help boost productivity in the long run. Tens of thousands of foot injuries occur each year and result in lost workdays, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

While there are many different kinds of boots that offer an array of safety features, there’s a difference between work boots and safety boots. Safety boots typically have toecaps that protect your feet from heavy falling objects and sole plates that prevent nail punctures, among other features.

 

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain types of footwear depending on the type of work involved, so it’s important to know the requirements.

 

Here are a few things to consider before buying: read more

 Florida’s housing market continued to heat up in July, as it picked up steam for the second summer month.

 

Florida Realtors reported that July was a strong month for statewide housing sales, with higher median sales prices, more pending sales, and additional new listings. Single-family home sales totaled 24,546 — up 2 percent from July 2016 levels — while condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,246 – up 3.6 percent.

 

Sales and prices were also up in June of this year.

 

“Florida’s housing market gained momentum in July,” said Florida Realtors President Maria Wells in a news release. “More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-[to]-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent.”

 

“Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units,” she added. read more

 

The U.S. construction industry added 28,000 jobs in August, but contractors expressed difficulties finding experienced workers.

 

According to reports by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Associated General Contractors of America, last month’s employment gains followed a hiring dip in July. The construction industry has added 214,000 jobs since the start of the year, including 129,000 jobs in specialty trades.

 

The number of unemployed individuals whose last job was in construction fell to 448,000, the lowest August total since 2000.

 

“Construction firms have stayed busy, adding employees in the past year at nearly twice the rate of employers throughout the economy, but more than two-thirds of contractors report[ed] difficulty finding craft workers as the number of unemployed, experienced construction workers hit a 17-year low,” AGC’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a press statement. “Although construction spending has fluctuated recently, many contractors are still looking for qualified craft workers and project managers.” read more

Do you know what a general contractor does exactly? What the position entails? There’s so many different types of contractors today that it can be hard to remember who does what. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor for work, you want to make sure he or she has the right skills you need for the job.

In the state of Florida, a general contractor is recognized as a “a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.”

In order to become a licensed general contractor, a person must show 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman or a combination of college and experience totaling at least 48 months with at least 12 of those months as a foreman. This person must also show at least 1 year or more of experience with habitable structures bigger than 4 stories. He or she must also have responsibility in at least four of the following areas in construction: Foundation/slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft, Masonry walls, Steel erection, Elevated slabs, Precast concrete structures, Column erection, and Formwork for structural reinforced concrete. read more