Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto recently signed an executive order to fight construction fraud, promote worker safety, and protect city tax revenue.
The city recently experienced incidents involving unreported cash payments by subcontractors on construction projects. The Construction Fraud Executive Order cracks down on construction companies that commit tax, insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud.
It also aims to stop companies from paying workers in cash to avoid taxes. These practices allow corrupt firms to outbid honest ones and contribute to lost wages, decreased tax revenue, and unsafe and hazardous work sites, according to a news release from the mayor’s office.
The city’s department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections, and its Finance Department, will form a committee with several local building trade groups to examine city code and to create more accountable and transparent construction development processes. The executive order requires that contractors or developers receiving city subsidies must report all workers on the project site.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 2, 2020
California releases guide for state water policy
Water Resilience Portfolio is roadmap for meeting water needs as climate changes.
Codes and Standards | Aug 31, 2020
Fenestration alliance updates fenestration sealants guide
First update to 2009 document.
Codes and Standards | Aug 25, 2020
Platform will allow researchers to test energy system integration at scale
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently launched the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform.
Codes and Standards | Aug 20, 2020
Wariness of elevators may stymie office reopening
Workers could balk at returning to high-rises.
Codes and Standards | Aug 19, 2020
Existing laws may be restricting efforts to cut carbon emissions
Outdated policies favor fossil fuels.
Codes and Standards | Aug 18, 2020
Florida becomes the third state to adopt concrete repair code
Sets minimum requirements for design, construction, repair of concrete structural elements in buildings.
Codes and Standards | Aug 17, 2020
ASCE seeks comments on seismic standard
Pertains to design criteria for nuclear facilities.
Codes and Standards | Aug 13, 2020
COVID-19 reboot guide offers strategies for reopening K-12 schools
Looks at space considerations for reopening at different scales.
Codes and Standards | Aug 12, 2020
Document provides guidance for mass timber construction
Overview of Intl. Building Code requirements included.
Codes and Standards | Aug 11, 2020
Inefficient air conditioning is a key contributor to global warming
More efficient equipment and buildings could make a big difference.
