SAFETY (FIRST) ALWAYS

“Safety First” is a common slogan used to remind workers about prioritizing safe work habits. That is certainly an important priority, but just an “okay” slogan. “Safety Always” is more fitting for SMACNA contractors, their skilled craftspersons, and SMART Locals that know the importance of establishing a “safety culture” in workplaces.

A safety culture goes far beyond establishing and following safety rules and procedures. It connects everyone in the workplace around the common goal of safety. In a strong safety culture, everyone from the company owner to individual employees supports safety and takes the necessary steps to make sure safety reigns supreme… always. Successful safety cultures prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, as well as the suffering and financial hardship to workers, their families, and employers.

Employee engagement is far more effective in establishing a safety culture than simple top-down policy making. Employees are on the front lines and most directly affected by hazards. When they have a say in safety protocols and training and know their input is taken seriously, they are more likely to maximize productivity, take fewer risks, and look out for their fellow employees on the job site.

Companies with strong safety cultures know that complacency kills. They continually update and improve their safety cultures to adapt to growing needs. J.F. Ahern and the Local 18 workforce provide an excellent example of an innovative and successful safety culture. Read about their “Hidden Hazards” program, on page 6, that looked to Netflix and other streaming services to draw their employees to learn from their interactive binge-worthy safety videos.

In 1986, SMART and SMACNA formalized their joint commitment to safety, establishing the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT). While initially focusing on life-saving screenings for sheet metal workers who may have been exposed to asbestos, SMOHIT has since broadened its mission to promote safety cultures by providing industry- leading health and safety solutions that minimize occupational illnesses and injuries for sheet metal craftspersons. “Safety Champions Unite,” on page 8, provides a good overview of the 2021 SMOHIT Safety Champions Conference and resources available to help local parties establish safety cultures.

In this month’s My Journey, we feature Mike McCullion, SMACNA’s director of market sectors and safety, who has worked closely with SMOHIT to ensure the safety and health of sheet metal workers throughout the United States and Canada. As his end of 2021 retirement date nears, McCullion reflects on the most rewarding and challenging aspects of his work. The Partners in Progress team thanks Mike for years of making our industry safer and wishes him well in his next adventure.

While University of Iowa versus Iowa State has been one of the most intense rivalries in college sports since the two first played in 1894, Hawkeye and Cyclone fans alike will be impressed by the quality of the custom fabrication work performed by D&S Sheetmetal and Local 263 tradespersons to upgrade the University of Iowa’s new Kinnick Stadium. “An Eye for Detail,” on page 12, describes the complex work the project required and outlines steps Local 263 and Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa, Inc. are doing to ensure that the next generation of workers in their jurisdiction will be equally capable of tackling complex projects.

Health and Safety go hand-in-hand, and that includes mental health. National Suicide Prevention Week is September 5-12, 2021. The article on page 14 describes a pledge that organizations and leaders have taken to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority. Given the high incidence of suicide in the construction industry, SMART and SMACNA have been encouraging industry stake holders to make suicide prevention an important part of their safety cultures.

Wearable technology can play a very important role in saving lives and promoting the safety and health of the sheet metal workforce. Successful implementation of this new technology requires clear communication on how the technology works, the benefits it provides to the worker and the company, and the measures to protect data acquired. Turn to page 16 for suggestions for introducing wearable safe technology.

Registration for the March 1-2, 2022 Partners in Progress Conference – Building the Future Together opened on September 8. Union, contractor, chapter, and training leaders who are planning for industry needs into the next 5 to 20 years are urged to attend. Knowing that leadership is a learned skill, SMACNA and SMART are encouraging each local area attending the conference to identify two emerging leaders from their area to participate in the program. The fees will be waived for these individuals.

Anyone who has ever attended a Partners in Progress Conference knows that at the conclusion, the presiding SMART and SMACNA officers implore each local area to select at least one common goal that labor and management can work on in their local areas. For those who may need inspiration in selecting a goal, it is hard to think of any “best practice” more important or more suited for labor-management collaboration than the safety and health of our workforce. ▪

© Can Stock Photo / Tund