Maine schools add programs to address HVAC, plumbing shortage | Pa. institute to expand welding program | AEC industry slow to adopt digital twin technology
A shortage of HVAC and plumbing technicians in Maine has caused a large backlog of related projects around the state, with even some basic work requiring at least three weeks in many areas, according to Paul Chapin, a plumbing and HVAC instructor at the Portland Arts and Technology High School. The school added teachers to help address the demand for HVAC technicians and plumbers, while Central Maine Community College is adding an HVAC and plumbing program this fall.
Lehigh Career & Technical Institute in Pennsylvania is planning to open a new Welding Technology Center because of increased demand for skilled workers. Construction on the facility, which is to be about twice the size of the current welding facility, is expected to be completed later this year.
A digital twin, or virtual replica, allows designers to test a structure before it is built, but the architecture, engineering and construction industry has been slow to adapt the technology, partially because designs often change during the construction process.
Boston University researchers have created a material that allows air and light flow but blocks sound. The material's properties would allow it to dampen the sounds created by HVAC systems, MRI machines and other equipment, according to researchers Xin Zhang and Reza Ghaffarivardavagh.
NFPA 70E is meant to ensure a working area is safe from electricity-related hazards, even though it's not included in OSHA regulations, Mark Lamendola says. "The financial, operational, and emotional impact on a firm when an employee suffers an arc blast or electrocution can be severe," he writes.
The Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division has released an opinion letter stating that the Family and Medical Leave Act can't keep employers from designating leave policies that are more generous than required, although only 12 weeks of standard leave or 26 weeks of military caregiver leave will be protected by FMLA. Meanwhile, the division's two opinion letters on Fair Labor Standards Act matters indicate that the division doesn't consider state law exemptions as good-faith defenses to FLSA noncompliance and that optional volunteer program hours don't qualify as hours worked under the FLSA.
Construction employers who want to attract new talent must "showcase their values, unique line of business or management style early in the recruitment process," Matt Bertman and Kevin Clary write. It's also important to establish a favorable culture through employee recognition, professional development opportunities, flexible work schedules and other initiatives.
A project manager's duty to balance a client's goals and objectives against informing the client about potential problems is challenging but necessary, Mark Anderson writes. How well your team approaches the "gray area" between compliance and confrontation can shape the outcome of a project.
Captives typically used for insurance are now expanding into the role of reinsurance. Alex Wright examines their growing use in reinsuring surety bonds and the advantages they offer.