WA Building Trades

What's New at WSBCTC

SHIP Safety & Health Grant Money Available

Updated On: Jun 26, 2009 (07:30:00)

June 24, 2009
Grant money available from L&I for safety and health improvements
OLYMPIA – The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) said today it is accepting new grant applications for improving safety and health at Washington workplaces. An estimated $2,500,000 is available for grants in this funding cycle.
L&I Director Judy Schurke said that in today’s economic climate, it is especially important to find innovative ways to keep workplaces safe: “A healthy workforce lowers employers insurance costs, helps businesses meet today’s economic challenges, and keeps workers safe from injuries or illnesses.”
Schurke said the previous grant award winners have been instrumental in developing creative, new ways in advancing safety and health for workplaces in Washington.
Safety and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) grants are awarded to projects that seek to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses, save lives, and educate workers and employers about workplace hazards and safe workplace practices. Priority will be given to proposals that involve cooperation between employers and employees or their representatives.
Organizations eligible to apply for grants include trade and business associations, labor organizations, employers, employee organizations, joint labor/management groups, and groups of employees. A Grant Review Committee of business and labor representatives will help L&I review grant proposals.
Completed applications must be received in the SHIP office or post marked not later than August 31, 2009. Applications submitted on previous forms of the SHIP application will not be accepted.
The SHIP program is hosting grant information sessions in their Olympia office. The sessions are designed to answer questions about SHIP grants or the application process. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and registration is required. Contact Cathy Hakola at 360-902-5588 for registration information.
For additional information or assistance contact the SHIP program office at 360-902-5588 or invest@lni.wa.gov

2009 WSBCTC Convention

Updated On: Jun 30, 2009 (11:56:00)

The Fifty-Third Annual Convention of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO will be held at the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel, in Wenatchee, Washington, convening on

Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 9:00 AM, and adjourning (approximately) by noon on Friday, July 31, 2009.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

No-host cocktail hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2009, followed by the banquet at 7:00 p.m.

DEADLINES

Duplicate credentials, registration fees for delegates and fees for spouses and guests planning to attend any of the events must be in the office of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council no later than July 15, 2009.

ROOM RESERVATIONS

A block of rooms has been reserved for delegates to the Convention at the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel in Wenatchee, at a group rate of $99.00 for single/double occupancy, plus tax. This block of rooms will be released on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, so make your reservations early by calling (509) 662-1234. When making reservations, identify yourself as part of the building trades convention. Please note that a credit card or a deposit for one night’s room and tax will be required to guarantee each individual reservation.

Rooms at the Coast Wenatchee Center are filling up fast, so overflow rooms have been arranged with the Wenatchee Red Lion hotel. If you cannot book a room with the Coast call (509) 663-0711 for the Red Lion.

Fall Protection rule available for review

Posted On: Apr 08, 2009 (10:41:20)

April 8, 2009

L&I's draft Fall Protection rule is available for review

DOSH intends to develop a set of fall protection rules that are clear and understandable, workable for business and labor, and enforceable.

L&I wants to hear from you regarding any language in the draft rule that is unclear. L&I will use the information from you to assist in preparing a draft that will be submitted as a proposed rule for the formal rule making process.

You can access the draft at: http://www.LNI.wa.gov/WISHA/Rules/FallProtection/FallProtectionDraftApril09.pdf

The analysis document is an optional reference you can use while reviewing the rule draft. It will help you compare the draft language to our existing rules and understand how the draft differs from the current rule. You can access the analysis document at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/AtoZ/FallProtect/default.asp

In addition to the opportunity to provide written comments, DOSH will hold a stakeholder meeting to gather feedback on the draft rule language. The stakeholder meeting is scheduled as follows:

Monday April 20, 2009
1:00 pm
Department of Labor and Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501

Green Build: Jobs of the Future

Updated On: Mar 30, 2009 (11:19:00)

Washington's Green Building DVD Featuring Dave Johnson and the WSBCTC.

Visit the following link, right click on Green Build: Jobs of the Future and select "Save as" to download the movie to your computer for viewing.

http://www.terraformfilms.com/downloads/

DOE Weatherization Release

Posted On: Mar 18, 2009 (14:53:56)

Administration Announces Nearly $8 Billion in Weatherization Funding and Energy Efficiency Grants
Will support energy efficiency efforts nationwide that will create 87,000 jobs and cut energy bills for families

Washington DC -- Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Chu today detailed an investment of nearly $8 billion in state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts as part of the President's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With an investment of about $5 billion through the Weatherization Assistance Program and about $3 billion for the State Energy Program, the Department of Energy will partner with state and local governments to put 87,000 Americans to work and save families hundreds of dollars per year on their energy bills. To jump-start job creation and weatherization work, the Department of Energy is releasing the first installment of the funding - about $780 million -- in the next few days. The Department will release additional funding over time as states demonstrate that they are using the funding effectively and responsibly to create jobs and cut energy use. "This energy efficiency funding for states is an important investment in making America more energy independent, creating a cleaner economy and creating more jobs for the 21st century that can't be outsourced," said Vice President Biden. The funding will support weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment, which will pay for itself many times over. "Even as we seize the enormous potential of clean energy sources like wind and solar, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes a major investment in energy efficiency, which is the most cost effective route to energy independence," Chu said. The Weatherization Assistance Program will allow an average investment of up to $6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades and will be available for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level - or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. [$55,140 for Alaska and $50,720 for Hawaii] The State Energy Program funding will be available for rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation and alternative fuels; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills. The DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program allows low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient, reducing heating bills by an average of 32% and overall energy bills by hundreds of dollars per year.