Risk | Engineering News-Record

Risk

Contract disputes and terms; insurance, surety and compliance; ethics and law; liability

ARTICLES

Oil and Gas Construction

Big Energy Projects Draw Lots of Workers to Small Alberta Town

Scott Van Voorhis

Debra K. Rubin

January 16, 2022

No Comments

Work near Edson on the $10B Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion, $1.8B expanded NGTL gas line and $1.2B Cascade Energy power plant has brought at least 2,500 workers to town, with housing scarce.

Fire Safety

UK Building Owners Face Fire Safety Cladding Replacement Deadline

Peter Reina

January 14, 2022

No Comments

The industry has until March to develop a plan and funding to replace the type of cladding linked to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London that caused 72 deaths.

Workforce

SCOTUS Hears Feds' Suit Over State Workers' Comp Law for DOE Hanford

Mary B. Powers

January 13, 2022

No Comments

High court will decide Biden challenge to Washington state's major coverage expansion for nuclear site contractor workers related to illnesses claimed from exposure to major toxics

Transit Construction

Stalled Maryland Light-Rail P3 Won't Open Until 2026, With Cost Up $1.4B

Jim Parsons

January 13, 2022

No Comments

Purple Line's new JV contractor Dragados-OHL will start in spring if state approves its contract on Jan. 26. Construction tab now is $3.4B, with opening four years past original estimate, say officials.

Renewable Power Construction

Administration Expands Push to Build Clean Energy Projects

Plans include funding more renewable projects and accelerated permit decisions

Pam McFarland

Debra K. Rubin

January 12, 2022

No Comments

Multi-faceted federal effort includes largest yet U.S. auction of offshore wind project lease tracts, in metro New York City area, and more renewables built on public lands.

Environment

2021 US Climate-Related Disasters Second Only to 2020 in Cost

NOAA data underscore damaging effects of climate change on infrastructure, human lives

Pam McFarland

January 11, 2022

No Comments

NOAA data show costs associated with damages from climate-related extreme weather events in 2021 continued to climb.

Clean Energy Consruction

Spain Set to Launch First Floating Offshore Wind Turbine in Fall

Peter Reina

January 10, 2022

One Comment

Contractor Ferrovial used two 500-ton crawler cranes to raise and rotate six vertically cast floater elements for transport and assembly to support the 2-MW turbine in 85 ft of water.

Labor Relations

Teamsters Strike Slows Key Transit Work in Puget Sound Area

Tim Newcomb

January 10, 2022

No Comments

Sound Transit, Washington State DOT, King County and City of Seattle urge strikers and contractors to return now to mediated negotiations.

Construction Economics

Survey: Growth of Construction Activity Slows in the UK

Peter Reina

January 10, 2022

No Comments

Despite improving supply chains and high demand, delays are expected to continue.

Federal Contracting

FERC Pulls Burns & McDonnell Gas Project Contract, Cites Conflict

Mary B. Powers

January 6, 2022

No Comments

Firm's environmental review award and engineering contract relate to same natural gas project, agency says, after watchdog group raises issues over the link.

EVENTS

Webinar Procore & ENR Webinar Series

9/1/21 to 9/1/22

Online

Contact: Lauren Whitaker

Insurable Risks in the Post-Pandemic World

On Demand This webinar will consider the challenges in health and safety, delay costs and cybersecurity we've faced during the pandemic. A panel of construction risk experts will also consider whether new or highly specialized insurance policies are now viable and affordable choices for limiting some of the risks for contractors and designers.