ARE YOU AMONG the many managers in construction who perfectly understand costs and profits , projects and processes but whose eyes glaze over when it comes to buildings legislation ? But for the industry in the UK there ’ s no getting away from the fact that the amendments to Part II of the Housing Grants , Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 ( Construction Act 1996 , also known as the HGCRA ), made in 2011 to close a number of loopholes , are important . Businesses which make mistakes risk paying heavily . In this issue Wes Simmons takes us through some of the provisions affecting subcontractor provisions .

Meanwhile , in the USA one of the biggest problems facing the industry is the shortage of labor , forcing project managers to look at ways to mitigate this by the increased use of prefabrication , standardization , co-construction and other techniques . It is turning point , believes Kevin Kuntz offering the industry the chance to create new standards going forward .

To concentrate the mind , finally , we look at a few construction disasters in history – there ’ s always something to be learnt ?

Enjoy the issue !

Managing Editor John . O ’ Hanlon @ wdmgroup . com

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