Previous Polls
November 12 - November 16, 2018
A group of workers and environment and public health advocates recently notified the Environmental Protection Agency of its intent to sue the agency over its failure to finalize a ban on the use of methylene chloride in paint strippers. Do you think enough action has been taken against methylene chloride to date?
November 5 - November 9, 2018
Late last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave a nod of approval to a $31B, 70-mile-long coastal barrier that would help protect Texas against future storm surges. Do you think these measures will be enough?
October 29 - November 2, 2018
Earlier this month, China announced the opening of the world's longest sea-crossing bridge, which connects Hong Kong, Zuhai and Macao. Do you think more countries will invest in such large-scale projects in the future?
October 22 - October 26, 2018
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that any environmental regulations regarding the construction or repair of a section of U.S.-Mexico border wall for certain areas in Texas would be waived. Do you think waiving environmental regulations in this context will have a negative impact long-term?
October 15 - October 19, 2018
Earlier this month, a judge stopped the release of records related to the Florida International University bridge collapse. Do you think this was the best choice to protect the investigation?
October 8 - October 12, 2018
University of Sheffield researchers recently identified new structural forms for bridges that involve a one- and three- spoke design, allowing for the construction of very long-span bridges in locations where traditional bridges aren't tenable. Do you think long-span bridges will be a crucial part of global infrastructure?
September 30 - October 5, 2018
Recent reports indicate that the general contractor on New York's new Cuomo Bridge expressed concerns over pressure to open the bridge before the contractor thought it would be safe and ready. Have you been part of a project in which an asset owner rushed work despite the contractor's concerns?
September 24 - September 28, 2018
A Maryland county is the latest jurisdiction to consider banning pavement sealers containing coal tar and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Should these products be banned?
September 20 - September 23, 2018
Will newly developed nanomaterials like graphene revolutionize the protective coatings industry in the next 10 years?
September 17 - September 21, 2018
The Associated General Contractors recently reported skilled labor shortages throughout the U.S. in the construction industry; has your company had trouble filling positions this year?
September 10 - September 14, 2018
Plans are in place for offshore wind development both off the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes. Is your business preparing for the coating work that will come with more U.S. offshore wind structures?
September 4 - September 7, 2018
California legislators recently discussed banning new pipelines in state coastal waters, essentially preventing new offshore drilling in federal waters further out. Should states be able to control offshore development in this way?
August 27 - August 31, 2018
A recent jobsite accident in a San Francisco transit tunnel has spurred promises from the San Francisco MTA to better vet general contractors. Should letting agencies investigate bidders' safety records during the contract process?
August 20 - August 24, 2018
The CDC recently suggested current guidance on guarding workers against heat hazards may not be sufficient. In your experience, are heat risks taken seriously enough on construction sites?
August 16 - August 22, 2018
Do you belong to any water-industry groups (AWWA, WEF) in addition to coatings- or corrosion-related associations?
August 13 - August 17, 2018
Officials from chemical company Arkema were recently indicted over explosions that occurred at a Texas plant during Hurricane Harvey last year. Should the company face charges over an incident brought on by such extreme conditions?
August 6 - August 10, 2018
NASA recently revealed the finalists for its latest Mars habitat design competition. Is it worth our time and money to work on structures to house people on Mars?
July 30 - August 3, 2018
A recent report indicates that design-build may be on the rise as a contract model for construction projects in the U.S.; do you think more design-build jobs will have a positive impact on the industry?
July 23 - July 27, 2018
Several pipeline and oil and gas companies have gotten mixed results in their bids for exemption from the U.S. steel tariffs so far. In general, should these companies receive exemptions if the best quality steel for the job is from another country?
July 16 - July 20, 2018
Talk of a trade war is heating up as Canada and the EU take measures in reaction to the United States' steel tariffs. Will the ultimate effect on the world economy be positive or negative?
July 9 - July 13, 2018
Researchers at the University of Michigan, funded by the Navy and Air Force, are working on "omniphobic" coatings they say could reduce friction for ships in the water. Will hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings soon be ready for heavy-duty marine use?
July 2 - July 6, 2018
As the year reaches its halfway point, how has your business fared in 2018?
June 28 - July 4, 2018
How do you decide what media to use on a given abrasive blasting job?
June 25 - June 29, 2018
Methylene chloride paint strippers are being phased out by some companies and retailers ahead of an anticipated partial ban by the EPA. Should they be done away with entirely?
June 18 - June 22, 2018
Domino's last week announced a plan to fund road repairs in towns that apply for its help. Should a pizza shop be in the business of fixing infrastructure?
June 11 - June 15, 2018
A Pittsburgh artist is petitioning his county to save a decades-old series of graffiti geese from being blasted and painted over as part of a current rehab job. Can graffiti be worth saving?
June 4 - June 8, 2018
The Canadian government recently decided to buy Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline to ensure that a planned expansion to the line happens. Was this a wise choice?
May 29 - June 1, 2018
Elon Musk's Boring Company is seeking an exemption from a traditional environmental review for its tunneling project, but neighbors are suing to make sure a review takes place. Should L.A. require a full review?
May 21 - May 25, 2018
New reports indicate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency may not reimburse California fully for repairs to the Oroville Dam. Should FEMA step in to help?
May 14 - May 18, 2018
The U.S. military has expressed recently that it would like to block offshore drilling and wind projects in some U.S. waters where it operates. Should military exercises trump energy development at sea?
May 7 - May 11, 2018
A Dutch highway was recently rigged with rumble strips that would "sing" a song when motorists drove over them at the prescribed speed, but the project ended when nearby residents objected to the noise. Cool idea or just plain annoying?
April 30 - May 4, 2018
Many coatings suppliers have reported that increased raw-materials prices hurt their bottom line in 2017. Have rising material costs impacted your business in the past year?
April 23 - April 27, 2018
Mississippi’s governor recently closed dozens of bridges in the state because they did not meet safety standards. Should more states be taking bridge condition more seriously and shutting down unsafe spans?
April 16 - April 20, 2018
Last month’s Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling lease auction offered more acreage than any before it, but resulted in only about $3.5 million more in bids compared with last year’s auction. Will energy companies be investing considerably more in U.S. offshore drilling in the coming years?
April 9 - April 13, 2018
A recent PaintSquare blog by Robert Ikenberry stressed the importance of jobsite photography. Do you take photos for documentation throughout a project?
April 2 - April 6, 2018
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a new bulletin regarding hearing loss brought on by solvent exposure. Is the painting industry properly educated on ototoxicity?
March 26 - March 29, 2018
The U.S. government has instituted tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from other countries, after years of alleged “dumping” that critics say hurt American steelmakers. Is this a positive move for the United States?
March 19 - March 23, 2018
Researchers worldwide have been working in recent years to develop nontoxic and biobased antifouling agents to eventually replace traditional antifoulants in marine coatings. Is a sea change coming soon in the antifouling world?
March 12 - March 16, 2018
SSPC recently opened a call for papers for its Coatings+ conference in Feburary 2019. Will you be submitting a potential presentation?
March 5 - March 9, 2018
A water tower construction project in Texas was recently put on hold after a single endangered toad was found at the jobsite. Are environmental rules like this going too far?
February 26 - March 2, 2018
It was recently revealed that parts of the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster are being converted into a solar farm that can power 2,000 homes. Should renewable energy become commonplace on sites with toxic or radioactive waste risks?
February 20 - February 23, 2018
The Pennsylvania DOT is filling plug welds with bolts on 13 bridges in the wake of last year’s damage to the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge. Is this good preventive maintenance or is it unnecessary?
February 12 - February 16, 2018
In January, USA Today released a list of the country’s most dangerous jobs, with painting in construction and maintenance taking 24th place (out of 25) based on data related to injuries and deaths. Do you think this is an accurate depiction of the danger of professional painting?
February 5 - February 9, 2018
PaintSquare recently reported on engineers from the University of Cincinnati working with the Ohio DOT to determine whether polyaspartic coatings might be effective in controlling spalling on concrete bridge parapet walls. Do you think this approach will work?
January 29 - February 2, 2018
How important are industry conferences and trade shows to your business?
January 23 - January 28, 2018
What did you enjoy most about SSPC 2018?
January 22 - January 26, 2018
OSHA recently renewed its alliance with the National Association of Women in Construction, aiming to safeguard women in the building trades. In your experience, are women at special risk for workplace injury in the construction industry?
January 18 - January 24, 2018
How often do you work with coatings for concrete?
January 17 - January 23, 2018
What do you think of the decision to rename the SSPC conference "Coatings+" starting in 2019?
January 15 - January 19, 2018
Researchers at a U.K. university have reportedly developed a method of 3-D printing stainless steel that’s stronger and more ductile than steel printed with current methods. Will "printing" large steel structures be commonplace in the future?
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