Washington – Nearly 30 percent of employers that rank among the top violators of federal wage and safety laws receive federal contracts, according to a report issued Dec. 11 by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee after a yearlong investigation.

Washington — The Department of Labor has issued a final rule that targets “employee misclassification” of workers as independent contractors.

Washington — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Labor’s rule on determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.

Washington — Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) is threatening acting Labor Secretary Julie Su with a subpoena over her “failure to provide the requested information” on the Department of Labor’s independent contractor rule.

Monitronics International's new application, eContract, enables its dealers to fill out contract information electronically. The new application eliminates the hard-copy paperwork that is traditionally filled out for a new customer contract.

Following a successful pilot phase, Dallas-based Monitronics International’s electronic “eContract” application — designed to eliminate the hard-copy paperwork that is traditionally filled out for a new customer contract — is now available in production for its Authorized Dealer program.

Sydney — Need to reset your attention during a complex work task? A five-minute break is all it takes.

The Johnson Controls headquarters campus at Glendale, Wisconsin has the largest concentration of buildings on one campus to ever receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification.

The self-paced program is designed to prepare individuals for obtaining their alarm contractor license and serves as a Level One equivalent certification.

Washington – OSHA has stated that it will change some of the processes in its Voluntary Protection Programs, after a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit uncovered several weaknesses in recording and reporting systems involving contract workers.

Communication — both with end users and emergency personnel — has always been an essential part of any monitoring business. The methods through which monitoring centers communicate, though, have become incredibly varied.

When a building burns down, a lawsuit arises around a contract waiver between an alarm company, a building owner, and the insurance company.

An insurer sues an alarm company for failing to respond when a subscriber’s pipes burst, but a lack of a contract negates the claim.

A California rule is used in deciding cases of workplace safety.

A court ruled that a security contractor was not liable for a carjacking incident, citing the absence of a special relationship and the unforeseeable nature of the crime.

This Month’s Article will deviate somewhat from our normal review of current litigation cases: as a fairly new entity has arisen in the security industry: the Management Company.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council has proposed two rules which would require federal contractors to report security incidents and standardize cybersecurity requirements for unclassified Federal Information Systems (FIS).

There are a variety of ways for an alarm company to spread its green footprint. One of the most commonly discussed and easily considered areas of going green is the reduction of the use of paper.

Private radio operations can be valuable for maintaining communications during cell network outages or in times when overburdened with too much traffic.

Wholesale monitoring executives discuss trends, technologies and services that dominant today’s monitoring ecosystem and where independent security dealers can find success. 

Q&A with TMA Central Station Manager of the Year Runners-Up

Sacramento, CA — In an effort to “enhance commercial vehicle safety” and “create consistency between state and federal regulations,” the California Highway Patrol is proposing the state adopt regulations requiring the use of electronic logging devices for commercial motor vehicle carriers involved in intrastate operations.

Philadelphia – In a rare criminal prosecution for a workplace fatality, the Department of Justice has charged a roofing company owner with attempting to cover up his failure to provide fall protection for a worker who fell 45 feet to his death.

Birmingham, AL – An Alabama roofing contractor was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 30 hours of community service for lying to OSHA about providing workers with fall protection equipment.

Philadelphia – In a rare criminal conviction for a safety violation, a roofing company owner has pleaded guilty to lying to OSHA and willfully violating an OSHA rule in connection with the death of an employee.

Philadelphia – A Pennsylvania-based roofing contractor who lied to OSHA in the aftermath of an employee death was sentenced March 29 to 10 months in prison.

Santa Monica, CA – Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression may be common among private military contractors, suggests a new study from RAND Corp., a nonprofit research institution.

Washington – The House Armed Services Committee recently adopted a proposed amendment that would exempt many federal defense contractors from disclosing labor law violations.

The National Roofing Contractors Association and roofing manufacturer GAF have teamed up to create a website intended to help roofing contractors keep their employers safe.

Washington – Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) has introduced legislation intended to protect employees of companies that perform work for the federal government.

New Orleans — OSHA can issue citations to general contractors who fail to control hazardous conditions at multi-employer worksites, even if those conditions do not directly affect their own employees, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled Nov. 26.

The white paper highlights the world leaders in security, as well as their smaller competitors and the investments they are making.

Do all confined spaces require electronic equipment for effective communication between the attendant and entrants?

Washington — The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has updated its online hub of information and resources on substance use disorder and recovery.

Lansing, MI – Michigan OSHA has launched a Local Emphasis Program targeting enforcement activities on industries that recently have experienced an increase in injuries and illnesses.

According to Parks Associates’ consumer study “360 View: Residential Security,” remote monitoring and no long-term commitment are key factors to attract new security customers.

Zentra has plans to expand its capabilities to the new Schlage XE360 Series later this year.

In her new leadership role, Brown will work to ensure the TMA Five Diamond designation remains current and reflective of excellence in security monitoring.

The Immix certification program is based on employee training, as well as system and infrastructure requirements.

Critical Response Group (CRG) and Intrado, announced the integration of CRG within Intrado’s FirstNet certified Safety Shield application.

This contract provides public sector customers across the U.S. with simplified access to i-PRO’s security products and services.

The agreement eliminates the need for additional Requests for Proposals (RFPs), allowing public bodies to bypass lengthy procurement processes and acquire essential equipment faster and more cost-effectively. 

Supply chain management, even in real-world scenarios, can present varied challenges. When operations are conducted at remote locations, these challenges increase manifold.

Managing the tangled network of contractors and subcontractors with whom your business partners is a complex, time-consuming challenge.

MS Fire Protection is said to provide a valuable launch point for Pye-Barker’s fire sprinkler operations in the Golden State’s Central Valley region.

The acquisition of Vortex Security is said to increase Guardian Protection’s customer base primarily in its central Florida footprint.

Investing in security entrances is crucial for physical security, but ongoing service and maintenance are essential for long-term performance, security, and compliance.

Washington – The Department of Labor should consider alternatives to its proposal that would require federal contractors to provide paid sick leave to their workers, the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy wrote in an April 6 letter.

Washington – The House of Representatives has voted to block the so-called “blacklisting” rule that sought to force federal contractors to disclose previous labor-law violations.

Washington – After a narrow vote in the Senate, the so-called “blacklisting” rule that sought to force federal contractors to disclose previous labor-law violations is all but eliminated.