NBN Online for the week of October 13, 2008

(Plain Text Version) for full graphical version, click here.

In This Issue:

Front Page
States, Cities Told Housing Needed to End Revenue Slump
NAHB Achievement Award Honors ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’
Clarification on Extension of Energy Tax Provisions
Coast to Coast
Mortgage Last Loan People Pay, Study Finds
Politics & Government
Build on Change, Attend SLGA Conference in November
Economics & Finance
Builders Can Rehab Foreclosed Homes for HUD Program
Mortgage Insurance Tax-Deductible for Some Home Buyers
Household Budgets Stretched Thin by Housing Costs, Study Finds
Get Essential Housing Analysis at Construction Forecast Conference
Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
IBS
Daily Speakers at IBS to Give Tips on Surviving Downturn
Register for the 2009 Builders' Show in Las Vegas
Think — and Act — Radically About Industry Education. Sign Up at IBS
Downturn
How to Compete for Sales in a Fearful Market
Improve Daily Operations Using Available Technology
Learn About Diversifying Into Light Commercial Market
Tips
Builders’ Tip: Bend PVC Pipe Without Putting a Kink in It
Technology
Home Technology Within Reach of Average Buyers
50Plus Housing
National Debt Called a Threat to Well-Being of the Elderly
Best of 50+ Housing Awards Open for Nominations
Revolutionary Ideas for 50+ Market at Boomers and Beyond in Philly
Multifamily
Multifamily Builders Report Summer Credit Tightening
Enter Pillars of Industry Multifamily Awards by Nov. 21
Remodelers
Energy Tax Credits Available in 2009 for Existing Home Owners
Plan a Local Event Around the Lead Paint Audio Seminar
Member Profile: Surviving Through Sharing Ideas
Building Systems
SHOWCASE Offers Solutions in a Challenging Market
Education
Education Calendar
Green Building
Landscaping Represents Missed ‘Green’ Opportunities
Construction Safety
NAHB SAFE Award Fee Waived, Deadline Extended to Oct. 31
disaster relief
‘Gifts In Kind’ Donations Aiding Hurricane Ike Victims
Sales
Enter The Nationals Sales and Marketing Awards by Oct. 17
hbi
HBI Leader Bill Paul Named Florida Builder of the Year
Building Products
CertainTeed Web Site Provides Ideas for a Dream Porch
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV
Endowment
Submissions for Lee S. Evans Scholarships Due Nov. 21
Applications for Endowment IBS Scholarships Due Oct. 31
Association News
CBIA Mourns Loss of Chairman Raymond Becker
GM $500 Private Offer: Easy as 1-2-3
Williams Scotsman Offers One Month Free Rent, $50 Gas Gift Card
Members, Save 10% at Omaha Steaks When Shopping Online
Save $25 on Hertz ‘Green,’ ‘Fun’ or ‘Prestige’ Weekly Rentals
UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

NAHB SAFE Award Fee Waived, Deadline Extended to Oct. 31

NAHB is removing the $50 application fee and extending the entry deadline for the 2008 Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE) awards, as part of its ongoing commitment to help members weather the economic downturn and to recognize and promote exemplary workplace safety programs.

“We want to help our members minimize expenditures wherever possible, while at the same time continue to recognize those that are leaders in advancing safe behavior and safety education,” said Buck Roberts, president of A.B. Roberts Construction Company in Anderson, S.C. and chairman of NAHB’s Construction Safety and Health Committee.

The NAHB SAFE award honors the achievements of builders and trade contractors who have developed and implemented high-quality construction safety programs, as well as government officials and NAHB-affiliated associations who have made successful efforts to advance safety in the home building industry.

In order to encourage members who may not have submitted nominations due to the entry fee, the deadline has been extended to Oct. 31.

Awards will be made in a variety of categories; for a detailed listing, click here.

For information, requirements and an online application, click here (nahb.org/SAFE).

Award winners will be recognized during a breakfast ceremony on Jan. 20 during the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Winners will receive an award and coverage in this publication.

Read about the 14 companies recognized for their safety achievements with 2007 SAFE awards here.

NAHB is seeking companies to become sponsors for the safety awards program. For sponsorship information, click here; or e-mail Andy Flank at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8059.

NAHB provides members and others in the residential construction industry — including non-English and limited English-speaking employees and trade contractors — with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety.

A variety of safety resources and guidebooks, including the NAHB-OSHA Jobsite Safety Handbook: English-Spanish Edition, can be purchased through www.builderbooks.com/safety.

For more information on the SAFE Awards, e-mail Lindsay Cather at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8163.



Boost Job Site Safety With Fall Protection Training Products

In an effort to increase job site safety and reduce the chance of job related accidents, NAHB has produced the “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish and “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish.”

Both are available through BuilderBooks.com.

The 30-minute “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish” can be used by builders to train workers to use safe work practices that eliminate fall hazards and comply with OSHA fall-protection standards.

The “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish” provides guidelines for creating a written fall-protection plan and identifying safe work practices that can prevent costly accidents and injuries. Written with clear text, photographs and illustrations, the book serves as a user-friendly resource for promoting safety on any job site.

To purchase the handbook and video online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.



Create a Safer Job Site

Four common hazards cause 90% of the injuries and fatalities on residential construction job sites.

The “Recognizing the Big-Four Safety Hazards for the Home Building Industry course from The NAHB University of Housing shows how to comply with OSHA regulations and to recognize and minimize those hazards most likely to cause accidents.

The course teaches builders to protect their workers from harm and themselves from liability. This course is also available in Spanish.

To find out where upcoming courses are being held, click here, or call 800-368-5242 x8154 for more information.



Home Builders Institute Offers New Program to Teach Hispanic Adults English

Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition is an easy-to-use, take-home learning tool created exclusively for the construction industry by the Home Builders Institute to improve communication, quality and safety on the job site.

The product, now available at www.seddesaberconstruction.com, uses proven LeapFrog technology to allow workers to listen, record and play back their pronunciation of more than 500 vocabulary words and 340 phrases. Participants who practice 30 minutes each day will complete the program in just four months. Learning at home, on their own time, also eliminates scheduling conflicts.

Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition was developed by a team of subject matter experts assembled through HBI — including superintendents, craft skills experts, remodelers and builders — to ensure that the information is relevant to today’s home building workforce. To address worker safety issues related to the language barrier, HBI created a seventh book based entirely on the NAHB-OSHA Job Site Safety Handbook.

NAHB members can purchase the learning system, all seven books and a skills assessment to chart employee progress for $395 per kit. The non-member price is $495. Order today and empower your workers to learn English at www.seddesaberconstruction.com.


 

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