The Dig Daily Dose Edition 680

Saturday Sheathing: Protect Progress, Reflect More!

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"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others."

– Jack Welch

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

Grow Others, Win Big

Jack Welch’s No-Nonsense Playbook for Candor, Speed, and Relentless Talent Development That Turns Ordinary Teams Into Boundary-Breaking Market Leaders

If you want world-class results, start by facing facts with brutal candor. Welch walked factory floors calling problems by name, not euphemisms. The sting of honesty cleared the fog, letting teams see the target and their gap to it. He burned mission statements into two crisp words: win, satisfy, so nobody wondered why the lights were on. Strip your goals until even the intern can quote them, then measure like a hawk. Data, not vibes, decides who gets resources and who gets reassignment.

But candor without speed is just a louder meeting. Welch shortened planning cycles from quarters to weeks, forcing managers to test, learn, and pivot before competitors held their Monday huddles. He preached, “Control your destiny or someone else will,” meaning bureaucracy is the enemy inside the gates. Audit your processes for choke points: redundant approvals, legacy reports, comfort-zone projects. Ask one today. The slack you recover becomes oxygen for innovation and sales.

Growth finally rests on people. Welch spent half his calendar identifying, stretching, and rewarding A-players. He promoted the restless learner, coached the solid B seeking an A, and helped C-players exit gracefully. It isn’t ruthless; it’s respect that everyone deserves a seat where they can win. Ask each teammate which new skill doubles their value this year; back it with a budget and praise. When talent sees a leader betting on their future, they bet their energy on the company’s.

Practice Welch-style candor, give one blunt, caring feedback, spotlight one rising talent, and slash one slow rule so your Team moves faster and learns bigger before sunset.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Intel’s $28B Ohio Fab Delay Shakes US Builders

Intel pushes the $28 billion Ohio mega fab to 2030, re-sequencing Bechtel, stretching the 7,000-site job timeline, and shaking the CHIPS Act funding math hard.

Intel confirmed its long-promised Ohio One chip campus will not turn on the lights until 2030, stretching the construction phase of the $28 billion twin-fab project by at least five years. Contractors led by Bechtel now face a marathon re-sequencing of concrete, steel, and clean-room packages slated initially to peak in 2026.

Local unions say the promised 7,000 craft jobs will still happen, but stretched over a decade, muddling apprenticeship classes and temporary housing demand. Licking County must also reschedule $600 million of road and grid work once synced to a 2026 opening, while glass and gas suppliers eye furloughs.

The Commerce Department hinted that CHIPS Act cash will flow in smaller waves, tying milestones to Intel’s slower ramp. Analysts warn the slip frees up cranes and crews for TSMC in Arizona. Yet, some builders welcome the breather: wages may cool, materials may stabilize, and designers can add water-recycling tweaks now required by Ohio code. Industry eyes next steps.

INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY

Musk to Drill Amtrak $8.5B Douglass Tunnel Project

USDOT eyes Musk’s Boring Co. to cut big overruns on Amtrak’s $8.5B Frederick Douglass Tunnel; promises 100 mph trains, 2035 opening, and less tax pain.

Federal rail officials confirmed this week that they’ve invited Elon Musk’s Boring Company to review the Frederick Douglass Tunnel after costs doubled from $4 billion in 2021 to roughly $8.5 billion. The two-mile Baltimore–Washington link is Amtrak’s largest job, and DOT hopes value engineering can curb overruns before the next contract is bid.

The 152-year-old Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel limits trains to 30 mph. Its successor targets 100 mph electrified service plus a MARC yard. Boring Co. pitches smaller bores, conveyor spoil removal, and precast linings that could trim months and billions, but FRA notes conventional builders are still in the mix.

Amtrak says the 2035 opening and 30,000 construction jobs are still achievable, but ethics groups argue Musk’s many federal contracts could create conflicts. DOT wants cost-cutting recommendations by October. Until then, ground-freezing rigs dot north Baltimore, and commuters crawl through the corridor’s worst choke point. Relief feels overdue.

RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH

New Lead Dust Rule Shakes Remodelers & Flippers

EPA slashes lead-dust action levels near-zero for pre-1978 homes; remodelers must add lab tests, clearance cleans costs jump, rehab schedules slip

EPA’s Nov 12, 2024 rule slashed dust-lead action levels in pre-1978 homes to “any detectable amount.” Effective Jan 13, 2025, all RRP projects will clear lab wipes below 0.1 µg/ft² on floors, a tenfold tightening by Jan 12, 2026. EPA renamed DLRL and DLAL thresholds to signal even trace lead demands action.

Contractors in Chicago and Philly now add two $65 wipes and a $450 clean per room, pushing kitchen guts up 8 %. NAHB says compliance could swell rehab bills by $4.2 billion annually and extend jobs by a week. Lowe’s ran out of HEPA vacs, 3M doubled suit shipments, and EPA class slots sit 30 % overbooked through July.

Flippers fear shrinking spreads, yet doctors expect 120,000 fewer kids with high lead by 2030. Insurers hint at discounts for certified sites, DustZero sells same-day PCR swabs, and New York sets a $50 M rebate kitty for distressed zips. Tool makers market cordless vacs that automatically log clearance data for permits. Compliance will now shape every rehab schedule nationwide.

TOOLBOX TALK

The Importance of Safety with Temporary Electrical Lighting

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today's toolbox talk covers safety with temporary electrical lighting. Temporary lighting keeps our site operational, especially during early mornings or late evenings, but can create hazards if misused.

Why It Matters
Faulty temporary lighting can lead to electrical shocks, fires, trips, and falls, causing serious injuries and disruptions.

Strategies for Safe Temporary Lighting

  1. Inspect Regularly:

    • Check lights, cords, and connections daily for damage or wear.

  2. Use Ground-Fault Protection:

    • Always connect temporary lighting systems to GFCI-protected circuits to prevent shocks.

  3. Avoid Trip Hazards:

    • Keep cords and lights safely secured and away from walkways and heavy traffic areas.

  4. Use Proper Bulb Guards:

    • Protect bulbs from accidental breakage and prevent burns or electrical hazards.

  5. Position Lights Correctly:

    • Ensure adequate lighting without creating glare, shadows, or eye strain.

Discussion Questions

  • Have you seen incidents involving temporary lighting issues?

  • How can we improve safety with temporary lights?

Conclusion
Proper management of temporary electrical lighting prevents accidents. Inspect, secure, and protect lighting regularly.

Stay illuminated, stay safe!

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