[ 2 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
IMAGE B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
Plumbing & Mechanical Professionals of Virginia Chairman James S. Steinle Atomic Plumbing 1377 London Bridge Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23453 757-464-2934; Fax 757-363-8403 jim@atomicplumbing.com
Vice Chair Theresa Dagenhart Long’s Corporation 11215-G Lee Hwy Fairfax, VA 22030 703-323-1776; Fax 703-385-7446 longs@longscorp.com
Past Chair Alan Givens Parrish Services 7865 Coppermine Drive Manasass, VA 20109 703-656-2008; Fax 703-656-2006 Alan@ParrishServices.com
Committee Chairs Laurie C. Crigler L & D Associates, Inc. 935 Good Hope Church Rd Aroda, VA 22709 540-948-6230; Fax 540-948-5617 lcc@ldassociatesinc.com
Michael Hurt Long’s Corporation 11215-G Lee Hwy Fairfax, VA 22030 703-323-1776; Fax 703-385-7446 mike@longscorp.com
Lorrie Gore Gundlach Plumbing and Heating Company 7603 Compton Road Richmond, VA 23228 804-288-1951; Fax 804-266-9236 lgore@gundlachco.com
Dan Foley Foley Mechanical, Inc. 8390 Terminal Rd., Unit 1 Lorton, VA 22079 703-339-8030; Fax 703-339-8031 dfoley50@verizon.net
Matthew Kemp Aireco, Inc P.O. Box 414 Savage, MD 20763 703-209-7386; Fax 301-953-1962 mkemp@aireco.com
Executive Director Ali Wines PMPV-VAPHCC P.O. Box 6 Centreville, VA 20122 800-947-7450; Fax 800-947-7415 info@pmpv.org
Fall 2012 Volume 77 / Number 3 Senior Editor - Ali Wines
FALL 2012
C O N T E N T S
Chairman’s Report - Jim Steinle 4 2012 PMPV/VAPHCC Award Winners
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Ask Ali and Jim
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Employee Highlight: Paul Keane, Atomic Plumbing 10 Why I Joined PMPV/VAPHCC - Randy Baldwin 11 PMPV Committee Reports Legislative Guest Writer, Butch Davies 12 Communications Guest Writer, Jim Roman 14 Matt Kemp, Industry Committee Chairman 16 Mike Hurt, Apprenticeship & Education Chair 18 Dan Foley, Networking & Mentoring Chair 20
thank you advertisers
A D I N D E X
Aireco Supply 22 Bradford White 23 Building Goodness 21 Cummins-Wagner 16 FastEst, Inc. 15 Grundfos 11 Hodes Company 21 Liberty Pumps 24 PHCC National Association 10 Parts Unlimited 2 Quality Service Contractors 15 Rheem Manufacturing 19 Saniflo 7 Service Roundtable 21 Somerville 17 T & S Brass 7 Viega 9 Virginia Marketing Associates 22 Washington Gas 12 Woodford 5
Image is the official magazine of the Plumbing & Mechanical Professionals of Virginia and is published four times annually. PMPV does not necessarily endorse any of the companies advertising in this publication or the views of its writers. Image is designed and published by Blue Water Publishers, LLC. Articles and information published in this magazine may not be reproduced without written consent of the PMPV or Blue Water Publishers, LLC. The publisher cannot assume responsibility for claims made by advertisers and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by contributing authors. For more information on advertising, contact Jim Aitkins, Blue Water Publishers, LLC, 22727 - 161st Avenue SE, Monroe, WA 98272 360-805-6474 / fax: 360-805-6475 / jima@bluewaterpublishers.com
Fall 2012 |
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C H A I R M A N
Changing With the Times
Jim Steinle
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s the seasons begin to change – I must admit that my business has changed as well! Last year, as scary as this is to say, we had some large financial losses and the realization quickly sat in that if we didn’t do something to ‘change with the times’ we could quickly be out of time! Luckily, through conversations with colleagues from PMPV/VAPHCC, I was able to talk through and about what seemed to be plaguing the industry. And I am happy to say that with good changes in place, I truly believe that the worst of times is behind us. We are even starting to expand and grow again. Something which in this economy was extremely hard to do! I am excited to report that our future is very bright! However, as I look back over the past few years – I know that mine is not the only company which has struggled. I began wondering if others are reaching out to talk to industry colleagues and to challenge themselves to review what changes are being made to stay competitive with the times while of course also being profitable. I say this again, if you and your business don’t change with the times you are going to be left behind! Simply look at the numerous companies that are now out of business. Either they weren’t willing to make changes or didn’t know what changes to make. Regardless, the result was the same – their doors are locked, their phones don’t ring, and their staffs were forced to find other employment… Nobody wants this outcome! And while I wish that I had all the answers – there are a few answers that I come back to over and over again: The necessity to belong to a trade association and the need to find an avenue/vehicle for change. The hardest part of those two answers is that each business owner must figure out how their business can and needs to change with the times. If you are just starting out or need help to stay in business – the first step is simple: join a trade association. JOIN PMPV/VAPHCC! If you are a part of an association – the association is geared to help its members! Associations always support and encourage networking. As you begin to network, seek out the people who you know to be successful. Ask them the things that are weighing on your mind! You will typically find that successful [ 4 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
people have already learned the lessons you are asking about and are more than willing to share what worked for them! You may find that their solution fits in your plan or perhaps another member’s solution would work better for your company. Either way, you will find out what other potential approaches there are to a problem and which approach may just be what works for you! Remember, it doesn’t matter where you are in the business (first days or fifty thousand days) – the problems I have had – you may have. The problems you have had – I may have. Let’s solve them together! There is certainly enough work to go around! Next the vehicles for change. The best thing I can do is share with you, my colleagues, what change has worked for my company. Change that has proven profitable and been VERY easy to implement! First, techs now ask customers about small add-on sales which increase the invoice by simply $50.00 per ticket. This has been a HUGE boost to the company profit. For example, on every drain cleaning call we go on we recommend Bio-Clean to the customer. The product is a safe, environmental friendly and easy to use bacteria substance that keeps drains open once they have been cleaned. Or, on all water heater installs we offer flood stops, a device installed on the cold water inlet that automatically will shut off the water if the heater begins leaking. Finally, on all toilet installs we offer a new slow-close toilet seat (yes when the men purchase this they say that they are doing it for their wives!). I could go on and on about simple changes that have brought additional revenue into the company while also offering safe, helpful, and sometimes long-desired outcomes! But better yet is that these simple suggestions have helped build more value for the company name. Another way to build the company name is to brand yourself! Increase your marketing. If you don’t make a name for yourself someone else will (likely at your expense). Make sure that people know your company is out there! One of the best ways to accomplish this is through the internet – make sure that you are “findable” when people do a search in your area - don’t waste your time using the old fashioned phone book. People do their searches by the internet now – not the yellow pages of the past phone books. If you need help joining the association or simply want to discuss how to implement the changes that are right for your company – please give me a call. I want our members to be more successful than they ever thought possible! And together – we can be!
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Choose from backflow prevention (67 series) or anti-siphon vacuum breaker (65 series) hose connections.
Represented by Virginia Marketing 804-569-0360 Fall 2012 |
IMAGE
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CONGRATULATIONS!
[ 6 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
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T&S plumbing products represented in Virginia by: RepSouth - 804-550-0025
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TSB-437 Low Lead PHCC Ad PUBS R1.indd 16
Fall 2012 |
6/20/11 IMAGE
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Dear Ali & Jim
Send your questions to askaliandjim@gmail.com
A G M S Y
Dear Ali and Jim,
I work in a small office and it never ceases to amaze me that no matter how good a job we are doing the boss always finds something to ride us about. When we do a great job it’s a 5 second “thank you” and if we make a mistake it’s a 30 minute gripe session. Aren’t there more positive ways to handle this and is there a way to bring this up to the boss in a way so that he “gets it” and I don’t get fired?
Signed, Fed Up
Dear Fed Up, Thank you for your question. We are going to answer this question from both the eyes of the employee and the boss in hopes of clearly seeing both sides. First, as the boss. We all know that running a business takes a LOT of work and there are many people who are clearly not cut out for the job. However, for those that are – they must have a very wide skill set. The good boss must have a clear understanding of the business at hand. For example – if you work for a plumbing company – the boss must know plumbing inside and out. The boss must be able to work on and run a jobsite, talk to clients, understand and manage cash flow, create yearly budgets, deal with personnel issues, give up personal and family time when the business calls, meet payroll, pay taxes,… and last but certainly not least, remember to treat the employees who are servicing the business like the extremely amazing assets that they are. Do bosses get this right all the time? No. Do we as humans get that right all the time – probably not. For example, if you took your car into the shop to have your tires rotated and the shop accidentally forgot to put the lug nuts back on one of your tires – and you found this out while driving when the tire fell off… You are far more likely to
A F K P U
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C H M R W
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have a 30 minute gripe session with the shop. Why? First of all because their lack of follow through was a hazard to both you and other drivers on the road, second it took additional time out of your already busy schedule to have to take the vehicle back in order to have the tire fixed, and finally you expected them to do the job they were hired for correctly the first time. Had you pulled out of the shop with all four tires rotated and properly aligned chances are the most the technician would have gotten was a 5 second “thank you” as this is the job he or she was hired and expected to do. I guess what we are trying to convey is that often times bosses simply try to show their appreciation by taking the time to say “good job,” or “thank you.” Knowing still that this was the job they pay you to perform. Your true understanding and feeling of appreciation will likely come at your next performance evaluation or company bonus. Now to look more at the employees perspective… People are motivated by different factors. Some people are motivated by praise, some people are motivated by money, some people are motivated by the challenge of fixing something or solving a problem, some are motivated by simply knowing at the end of the day that they helped someone else (and of course the list goes on). We suggest before approaching a boss to suggest they get better managerial training – you should try to figure out what type of employee you are. What motivates you? Once you know this – figure out how your office is structured and what your boss thinks motivates his team. Again, he may think incentive comes from pay increases because he personally believes in monetary incentives. Now, if you find that you are more incentivized by public recognition – there is nothing wrong with that. It may just simply not be what your company views as a proper means of recognition.
Now, for the hard part. Once you determine what motivates you and what your company seems to believe motivates employees – you are ready to ask your boss for a meeting to discuss ways of keeping the entire team focused and productive. You should begin the meeting by thanking your boss for taking the time to see you. Of course, any good boss would be happy to but your appreciation of his/her time will not go unnoticed. Next, let the boss know you are always trying to better your skills both in the office and out and one of the things you believe is missing in the current office structure is a better recognition for a job well done. Note that you believe both you and others (if applicable) would perform at even a higher standard by knowing that you will be recognized on a monthly or weekly top producer board or whatever avenue you think would be the best received. Jim and I both know that it may be hard to find the courage to speak to your boss about how they motivate their team but any good boss should recognize the need for open communication between themselves and their staff as well as the need to retain a happy team in order to keep a productive and reputable business. Especially one that will stand the test of time. If all goes well, by the end of the meeting your boss will be, at a minimum, looking more into the company’s incentive plan as well as his/her own managerial traits. Now, if you employer doesn’t believe in raises, bonuses, meeting with staff, or even praising talented employees, then you may need to consider if you are even in the right company. And if you aren’t, as you begin your possible job search, make that one of the questions that you ask a prospective employer – “How does you company believe in incentivizing staff?” This will likely open the door for some questions from the potential employer and give you the opportunity to say that you had worked, at one point in your career, for a company (you don’t need to mention which company) that never believed in recognizing good and hard work and how you have found that you are more motivated when the company or the boss recognizes good and profitable employees. How the feeling of recognition makes you want to strive for more and even work harder… Or that knowing a nice bonus awaits you after X months on Y incentive plan is another motivator and how you want to make sure you are joining a company where the vision for the employees is the same in the eyes of the boss as it is in the eyes of the employee. Ultimately, regardless of the profession, we all have to remember that there is more than one side to every story. And sometimes one must be willing to look at an issue from all sides in order to find the best way to move forward and we believe that open communication wins every time!
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Fall 2012 |
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6/25/2012 9:07:31 AM
Employee Highlight >>
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aul is one of Atomic Plumbing’s SECRET WEAPONS… Although we guess he’s not a secret anymore! Paul began working for Atomic Plumbing as a helper fresh out of Vo-Tech school back in 1993 and then attended the 4-Year PHCC Apprenticeship Program. Paul went on to get obtain his Journeyman Plumber & Gas Fitter’s License as well as his Virginia State Backflow Prevention Worker Certification. Throughout the years, Paul has continued his quest for knowledge while always being willing to lend a hand no matter what the job was. His determination, experience, and support for his fellow team members earned him the position that he has today running the day to day business as the Operations/Service Manager for Atomic!
NAME: Paul Keane COMPANY: Atomic Plumbing POSITION: Operations/Service Manager AGE: 38 YEARS OF SERVICE: Approaching 20 One of Paul’s colleagues said, “Paul loves what he does and thrives on it; there’s nothing he can’t do and he always gets the job done. He always has the company’s best interests at heart and prides himself on his accomplishments. He really is great to work with.” Owner, Jim Steinle said, “We say a special “thank you” to Paul, for his upcoming 20 years of service, hard work, dedication, leadership, and loyalty to this company. We couldn’t have done it without him and we’re grateful to have him on our team!” Image magazine would like to highlight an exception employee in each issue. If there is an employee in your company who should be recognized for outstanding service – please email info@pmpv.org with a brief note on what makes your employee outstanding (along with a color photo sent as a .jpg). We look forward to recognizing talented team members!
Plumbing and HVACR Contractors:
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Why I Joined PMPV/VAPHCC
B
efore I can explain why I joined PMPV/VAPHCC – I guess I should explain a little about when I took the plunge into business ownership. In 2004 I decided to go into business for myself. Almost on a daily By Randy Baldwin basis I struggled with different facets of owning and operating a business. I questioned whether or not anybody of a rational mind would deal with what I did day after day. There were certain times when I assumed that I must be a terrible businessman because I had so many struggles. There were days when I couldn’t keep employee morale up. There were days when I couldn’t figure out an efficient way to get materials. Days when I couldn’t figure out ways to trim the fat and increase profit. Days when I couldn’t figure out how to recruit new employees. Or how to handle letting go of employees that were not going to be helpful to my long term goals. Additionally, if I had a question about technical issues that I couldn’t answer myself where would I get the answer? Do any of these issues sounds familiar to you? I spent a lot of time thinking I was an island, that there was no one for me to turn to in order to get my answers. Well as it turns out, I was mistaken. One of the greatest things that I did as a business
owner was to join my PMPV/VAPHCC and especially the local chapter – Northern Virginia PHCC. I quickly found at the monthly dinner meetings that I was surrounded by like minded professionals in the same industry with the same issues and same problems to overcome that I had. I now had, and have the sounding board that I needed. When I was concerned about the most efficient way to organize my service trucks, I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel I had people that were willing and quite capable of helping me shorten my learning curve. When I had questions about what the best software to run my office was, I reached out to my new friends and simply asked. Making the process go much faster. And if you’ve been in business very long and are doing it even remotely well you understand that time is money. So as a person and a business owner that did it the hard way for a number of years, I implore you not to make the mistakes that I did. Find your local chapter and come out for a visit. You will quickly see how much of a benefit it can be for you. You may find yourself in the near future writing an article just like this – explaining to potential members what you found and how it works. Hope to see you at one of the many networking opportunities that PMPV/VAPHCC offers!
I provide Modern Comfort and batting practice.
With Grundfos in, you get more time out. To learn more, contact your local Grundfos representative:
Joyce Agency • 703-866-3111 • tjoyce@thejoyceagency.com moderncomfort.grundfos.us
Fall 2012 |
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COMMITTEE REPORT: Legislative Committee By Butch Davies, Guest Writer
Natural Gas. Efficient by Nature.
12,550
R
each out and touch your legislator. Say hello to your Governor. Talk to your Senator. Shake hands with your member of the House. Effective lobbying is personal. One of the real keys that I discovered when I was in the Legislature is that what you remember is the personal contact from your constituents. If there are particular bills which you want to have passed, seeing legislators during their down time during the summer and fall is effective. It allows them to put in requests for bill drafting. You can talk to them about what you need and ask for their help. It also lets you target specific pieces of legislation which you may either be for or against. It allows you to get your legislative committee to reach out and talk to the Governor’s staff and to individually contact senior members of the Legislature. On funding issues it is helpful to contact members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. Both of them have a unique ability to impact on funding. They propose the spending. During pre-legislative session timing they listen to their constituents. Take advantage of this opportunity. One of the real difficulties is that many people wait until the legislative session begins. You are fortunate that your legislative leadership has never done this. They have always been aggressive and have gone out to reach legislators who are supportive of the plumbing, heating and cooling contractors. The opportunity to make a difference means you have to act now. When you get closer to the legislative session you are fighting with everyone else who wants to be heard. You are not as successful as you will be right now. The real challenge you face is reaching out and touching those who can have an impact on your agenda. You need to be able to explain it and to touch those who are the key decision makers. Always make sure that you also communicate with the Governor’s staff because the Governor in Virginia has a significant impact on bills filed with the Legislature. In order to make sure you have a coordinated effort don’t hesitate to contact your Legislative Chair, Laurie Crigler. She worked with me when I was in the Legislature and I found her talents uniquely qualify her to reach out and help your membership. Good luck and do not delay your efforts to motivate your legislatures or the Governor’s staff. [ 12 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
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Fall 2012 |
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COMMITTEE REPORT: Communications Committee By Jim Roman, Guest Writer Dear Fellow PMPV Members, “Do you think of networking as a form of communication? I didn’t at first until I realized I was communicating the value of my brand and the brand of my company when I was out there. So this month I turned to the local Richmond, VA Networker Extraordinaire, Jim Roman. Jim not only helped me with my networking skills but has been instrumental in helping me hone other skills in which to lower my stress as a small business owner. I hope you all enjoy Jim’s article.” – Lorrie Gore, Communications Chairmwoman
How to WORK a NetworkMaximizing Your Efforts™
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hree guys walk into a bar. The extrovert says let’s get a drink, the introvert says lets grab a table and I say let’s meet the owner. Which one are you? Why do some networking events feel easier and more comfortable to go to than others? Are you one to attend a lot of networking events hoping to get business out of them only to find yourself with a booked schedule and still struggling to bring in business? Do you ever question whether you should be a member of this network or that association? Networking isn’t easy but it can become easier. I moved to Richmond only knowing two people, the person who hired me, who had a business in northern Virginia, and my neighbor. Not only that, I was from Pennsylvania, young and new to networking. Despite all this I knew I had to pay my bills and I really wanted to be successful at what I was doing. So how did I do it? How did I get myself known in the Marketplace? How did I brand the company I worked for? How did I build a successful business only knowing two people? I WORKED my Networks. It wasn’t easy but I was determined to make a difference. Here are some tips: Step 1: I would suggest reading about how to be a better networker. The book, “The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret” by Ivan Misner Step 2: Get a mentor who has been there and done that. One that has accomplished what you want to do. One that has a track record of success Step 3: Join an organization, like your local Retail Merchants Association or Chamber. Why? It is a great [ 14 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
place to meet a lot of people in a short period of time. You only need to join 2-3 networks/Associations to build your business. The key is to work the relationships within those networks/associations and be patient. These things take time. Step 4: Something that I did and you can too. I WORKED my Network. I created a process/plan that I could follow on a regular basis that eventually I would get good at, more comfortable with and in return, I would feel better when I networked. What was the plan? 1. Pick a reason to go other than to make salesNetworking is not selling. 2. I would pick the right event. Pick events strategically. (Not all networking/associations are created equal) 3. Take someone with you. Invite a referral source, strategic alliance, client or prospect that you think could benefit from attending. This way you can build relationships and you won’t feel as nervous about going. 4. Arrive early-VERY IMPORTANT -Arriving early gives you an opportunity to start conversations with others rather than walking into a room where conversations have already started. 5. WORK the room (for example a chamber or association event)
a. b. c. d. e. f.
I would get my nametag Grab a cup of coffee or water Scope out the room Go back to the nametag table to welcome everyone Connect with current customers and past customers Make introductions (what goes around comes around)
I ultimately developed strategies (process/plan) for BNI, Rotary, Retail Merchant Association and Industry Specific groups like NARI, AGC, my local Realtors association, etc. I followed the plan on a regular basis and finally got good at networking. Once I was good at getting others connected I got GREAT at networking. To Your Success, Jim Roman Jim is the President of Business Owner’s Institute, jim@ boiva.com, Business Owner’s Institute mission is: “We help you learn what you don’t know, implement what you do know and guide you to where you need to go”. © Copyright 2012 Business Owners Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Development
THE QSC ADVANTAGE
‘‘ I have made more progress in the growth,
professionalism and internal communications of my company in the last 10 years as a QSC member than the previous 27 years before that. I only have QSC and everyone associated
‘‘
with it to thank.
Roger Fouche Schaal Heating & Cooling Des Moines, IA
Our members say it best! Quality Service Contractors (QSC) is an elite professional association that assists plumbing and HVACR service and repair contractors. We help each member reach their potential in our increasingly demanding industry. As a member, you benefit from business management services and state-of-the-art training to enhance your image and enable you to better serve the needs of your clients.
SAVE OVER $950 Join QSC now, get 15 months for the price of 12 Offer ends December 31, 2012. For more information call (800) 533-7694 or e-mail wallace@naphcc.org Fall 2012 |
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COMMITTEE REPORT: Industry Committee By Industry Committee Chairman, Matt Kemp
R-22 Follow-UP
This R-22 Regulatory Update is brought to us by our friends at National Refrigerants. National Refrigerants is a worldwide distributor of refrigerant and refrigerant management services. Visit their website at www.refrigerants.com to learn more about National’s industry leading products and services. - Matt Kemp, Industry Committee Chairman
T
he air conditioning and refrigeration industry still awaits EPA’s final rule on the amount of R-22 that can be produced and imported in the US in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The rule, proposed in early January, is being drafted by EPA and still needs to go through a 90-day interagency review once the draft is complete. Although the interagency review process is supposed to last a maximum of 90 days, it is not a strict deadline and there is no penalty to the government agencies if their review takes longer than 90 days. So, the industry continues to operate under the assumption that there will only be 55 million pounds of new R-22 produced or imported for the 2012 air conditioning and refrigeration servicing needs. Although EPA’s actions caused some confusion and turmoil earlier in the year, R-22 remains available and there have not been any shortages. The industry, along with EPA, expects that EPA’s actions will result in more robust recovery and reclamation activity as well as increased efforts to identify and repair leaky R-22 systems regardless of the charge size. Hopefully, EPA will get the rule finalized before the end of the year so industry will have more certainty regarding the supply of R-22 for the 2013 air conditioning and refrigeration servicing needs. The chart above summarizes the amount of R-22 EPA permitted in the 2010 HCFC Allocation Rule and the minimum and maximum amounts they are considering now. In the absence of a final rule, EPA is only allowing the Minimum Proposed quantity to be produced or imported by authorized allocation holders.
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TECH TIP: Did you know that EPA requires air conditioning and refrigeration appliances containing 50 pounds or more of a HCFC or CFC to have all leaks repaired? The Best Practice is to repair all leaks, even if it isn’t required.
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COMMITTEE REPORT: Apprenticeship & Education Committee Apprenticeship & Education Committee Chairman, Mike Hurt
SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION!
W
ith summer over, vacations concluded, and school back in session – it’s important to not only think about your own children and grandchildren but also your work students! That’s right it is time to get your apprentices registered for class! There is nothing more important than a good education, no matter what field you are in or the amount of time in the field. A well trained employee is an extreme asset to any company. A PHCC sponsored apprenticeship program supports the industry as a whole. You can ask any business that has an apprentice in the program and they will tell you the same thing that they can see a difference in the employees that they’ve put through the program and how happy they are that they did! The National PHCC Convention, Connect 2012, will be held on October 3-5, 2012 in Philadelphia PA. This convention is where the National Apprenticeship competition takes center stage. The top Apprentice’s will be competing to see who the ‘Best Apprentice’ is when it comes to plumbing rough-in and setting fixtures. These students have come from apprenticeship programs from around the country and have studied while working during the day. We would like to wish all of them the best of luck during the competition. Just think, if you decide to register your employees for this program you could one day be watching them compete on the national level… and in the mean time you would be watching them grow and excel not just making them a better person, but also a better employee as well. If all the employers out there used this training, office morale would be up as everyone felt they were well educated and ready to tackle new and unique situations. I have had the opportunity to work with many of these individuals during the years and especially the competition. As an Apprenticeship teacher I have also had the opportunity to teach many of these individuals and watch them grow. As a teacher I can fully vouch for the benefit of this program for all of the students including myself. And even after years of teaching I find that I continue learning every time I walk into the classroom to teach because there are always changes and questions. As the Apprenticeship and Education committee chair I fully support and recommend the program to all the employers out there. I look forward to working with and teaching the aspiring apprentice’s. I wish the Apprentice’s that are competing in October the best of luck and safe travels to everyone traveling to the PHCC National Convention. I hope to see you there! If there are any questions please feel free to call or e-mail me. And for more information on Connect 2012 or to register please go to www.phccweb.org. Remember: As an employer you can make a difference in your company by registering your technicians into the program. There are classes for Plumbing as well as HVAC, and Electrical.
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COMMITTEE REPORT: Networking & Mentoring Committee By Networking & Mentoring Committee Chairman, Dan Foley
Singing the OSHA Blues
“
Hi, I’m from OSHA and I’m here to help you”. No, that’s not really what he said but it was what I was thinking as my lead tech on a large construction job called to inform me that OSHA was performing a surprise inspection of the job site. With thirty plus years in the trade, Ron is unflappable and calmly described the scene as the OSHA team descended on the site. I, on the other hand, was in a state of panic. Ron had phoned me to inform me of the inspection and was asking me what to do. He described the scene of the inspectors walking in the front door as subs scattered and ran out the back door like rats jumping off a sinking ship. I instructed Ron to stay on site and answer any and all questions honestly. Luckily, my crew had hard hats but several were wearing sneakers instead of boots. The inspectors were asking for documentation that was not on site. They were interviewing Ron and also asked to interview some of my field staff alone. Again, I advised Ron to accommodate their requests and to answer the questions honestly and make note of what documents were requested. While cursing my bad luck, I tried to understand why OSHA was there in the first place. There were no injuries or incidents on this site. As a matter of fact, in the ten years I have owned my company, we have been fortunate not to have suffered any major jobsite injuries. A few stitches here and there and a twisted knee were the worst I could recall. None required time away from work. Why was OSHA here? The best I could conjure up was that this was a large custom home going up in a nice DC suburban neighborhood. The construction was a disruption to the neighbors to say the least and had been ongoing for over a year. Could a wellconnected disgruntled neighbor have called on the dogs? This made the most sense as no one had been injured on this site. While this is pure speculation on my part, I could not arrive at a better reason. Ron brought a list of questions and a stack of documents back to the office. Soon enough, a FedEx package with more documentation arrived. A phone interview with an OSHA inspector was scheduled and conducted. Just what I [ 20 ] IMAGE | Fall 2012
needed: stacks of paperwork, forms to fill out, and interviews to schedule. I immediately called my friend, confidant and insurance super-agent, Dave Hersey. Dave works for Federated Insurance and has handled my insurance since day one. I consider Dave to be an integral part of our team and a major contributor to my company’s success. Dave reminded me of the safety manual we (read he) had put together. After a fruitless search for the original 3-ring binder, Dave e-mailed me a current PDF version. He also sent a record of our documented safety meetings. While we did not meet the letter of the code in terms of quantity and schedule, at least we had documented meetings on record. After filling out many forms and faxing them in, an interview was scheduled with an OSHA inspector. I dug in for a fight but it actually went very smoothly. I sent in the documents I had, admitted to the ones I didn’t have, and answered everything asked of me. I did not try to cover-up, backdate documents, or BS the inspector. Trust me, they have seen it all and will quickly see through any smokescreen or ruse. I explained to the inspector that we try to do the right thing. We are not perfect. ‘If we are in violation of OSHA code, let me know and I will fix it”, I told the inspector. I think he appreciated my candor and honesty and said he would follow-up with his findings after the investigation was complete. I heard back a few weeks later. We were dinged with three minor violations: 1. Failure to have material safety data sheets (MSDS) on site for chemicals and materials being used. 2. Failure to maintain a chemical information list (CIL) with the state. 3. Failure to maintain the proper OSHA documentation and posters in our office and on the jobsite. While these violations were minor and carried no financial penalties if they were brought into compliance, I did not like the idea of OSHA violations on our record. I scheduled an informal hearing, which is my right, with the state to plead my case. I hope that by proving compliance, the violations will be dropped. This hearing has not taken place at this writing but I will update in a future column. Continued on page 22
10/15
DO IT
What you do. What you love. It’s what we need.
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Struggling communities all over the world need your expert skills. Join our building community to volunteer at home or abroad.
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Building Goodness Foundation
buildinggoodness.org/doit 434.973.0993
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Looking back, I wish I had been better prepared. You never expect a surprise OSHA inspection but expect the unexpected. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, here is what I would advise: 1. Have safety manuals current, updated and readily available in both hard copy and electronic format. 2. Document safety meetings. At regular company meetings, spend the first ten or fifteen meetings discussing safety issues such as eye protection, proper footwear, tool safety, ladders and fall protection, distracted driving, etc. Your insurance agent is more than happy to provide materials for these topics. Make sure you document the meeting, topic and have everyone sign in. 3. MSDS sheets. Keep MSDS sheets on file for all the materials and chemicals you use. Manufacturers and local reps can provide this. I was able to find almost all of the sheets on manufacturer websites and my suppliers provided the balance. We now keep a copy at the office and at the jobsite. We also sent a file copy to the state OSHA office. 4. Post the required documents and posters at the office as well as jobsites. As I learned the hard way, it is not enough to keep a safe working environment for your employees which is a given and the least you can do as an employer. It is also necessary to comply with OSHA requirements and keep all the required documentation on hand and up to date. Learn from my headache and spend a couple of hours updating your OSHA documents. You will need them when you least expect it. Dan Foley is president and owner of Foley Mechanical, Inc. based in Lorton, VA (www. foleymechanical.com). FMI specializes in radiant, hydronic and steam systems as well as mechanical systems for large custom homes. He can be reached at 703339-8030 or at dfoley50@verizon.net
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