Building a Stronger Future: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategies for Steel Contractors8/19/2024
 According to the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), workers in the steel construction sector are at a higher risk for mental health concerns and suicide compared to other construction trades. Of the 11 construction occupations cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, structural iron and steel workers are #1 and reinforcing iron and rebar workers are #2 for highest rates of suicide.
The high-stress environments, physically demanding tasks, and stringent deadlines, coupled with the sometimes-isolated nature of the work, can contribute to mental health struggles among the steel industry. Additionally, the culture within the industry can sometimes stigmatize mental health issues, making it challenging for workers to seek help. Construction Suicide Prevention Week is September 9-13. The initiative aims to raise awareness, educate, and promote mental health and suicide prevention across the construction industry. Participating in events and activities during this week can help reinforce the importance of mental health and provide workers with valuable resources and support.  July 24, 2024 (Winston-Salem, N.C) The Board of Directors for the Steel Erectors Association of America names officers elected for a one-year term beginning July 2024. In addition, association members have confirmed a new slate of directors.
The Board of Directors consists of up to 19 individuals. From among the directors five officers are elected semi-annually, while the Immediate Past President is an appointed position. The incoming SEAA President is Jack Nix, Chief Operations Officer for Shelby Erectors, Inc. He is supported by David Deem of Deem Structural Services as Immediate Past President and Chris Legnon of Cooper Steel as President-Elect. Nix has been involved with SEAA since 2008 and has served on the board since 2011. He is a previous recipient of the association’s Person of the Year award and previously led the Membership Committee as its Chairman. Nix began his career in 1985 as an ironworker. In 2022, Shelby Erectors was featured on an episode of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, highlighting rodbusters. “There’s no other subcontractor owner organization out there that focuses on what we do—building with steel. My goal as SEAA’s next president is to continue to grow our membership, but especially among my reinforcing steel and decking contractor colleagues,” said Nix. The other new officers include:
Four incumbents were re-elected to new terms (2024-2027).
In addition, two individuals were appointed to vacated positions. Jamie Hopkins of United Rentals was appointed by the Executive Committee to fill the remaining term of Dave Brown. “Big Dave” Brown passed away on May 31, 2024. He joined SEAA’s Board of Directors in 2014 and championed the Boom Lift Ball Drop fundraiser, which helped to fund many projects dedicated to the safety and education of steel professionals. Geoff Kress, Gardner-Watson Decking, was appointed by the Executive Committee to fill the remaining term of Tom Schlickbernd, who recently retired. SEAA is currently seeking dedicated members to join several of its key committees. This is a valuable opportunity for those looking to make an impact within the industry while contributing to the organization's growth and success.
We have openings in the following committees:
Committees are made up of employees of member companies. Each committee is led by a chairperson. Members serve for three-year terms. “We are looking for enthusiastic members who are committed to advancing the steel construction industry and enhancing our association’s activities. Participation provides a stepping stone to serving on the board of directors,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director. “The opportunity to collaborate with other industry professionals and leaders is the best way to get value out of your membership,” said Jack Nix, President of SEAA and Chief Operations Officer for Shelby Erectors. If you’re interested in joining a committee or learning more, please contact Krista Whittemore.  By: Tracy Bennett Three of the five winning Projects of the Year– presented by SEAA in April 2024 to members from Arizona, Georgia, and Kentucky– shared common challenges of space constraints and difficult site access. In Atlanta, Georgia, Porter Steel, Inc., had to deliver materials for an 8,625 lb AESS staircase to be installed between 9th and 10th floors of an office building using a 5 ft x 8 ft elevator. Likewise, All Things Metal faced setting structural steel by hand in the basement and upper floors of a 100 year-old building conversion into a posh boutique hotel. Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, the building was hemmed in on one side by a light rail line. At 691+ tons of steel erected, Cumberland Steel Company’s project was on a larger scale than the other two. However, they faced similar difficulties building an immersive sports, entertainment and arts venue in The Colony, Texas. The jobsite location was not much larger than the overall footprint of the structure itself, and had residential buildings on two sides, access roads that could not be shut down, and several other active projects surrounding it. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
 By: John Miebers Maintaining profits and keeping jobs on track is not easy in the construction industry. There are bills to pay, materials to order, teams to manage and everything else in between. That’s why you need accurate, real-time Work in Progress (WIP) reports to keep projects running smoothly—and to grow your bottom-line profit. Work in Progress (WIP) is an essential part of construction accounting. It calculates the progress of all ongoing work, allowing you to see what’s been done and what’s left to do—helping you manage budgets effectively. This information can then be used to generate reports and track project development using “percentage complete” figures. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
 By: Kevin Cunningham Digital transformation is changing customer experiences, business models, and operations across most industries. In steel construction, contractors can analyze digital data from past accidents to help build a culture that continuously improves safety. That kind of safety culture prevents accidents, saves lives, and reduces the likelihood of lawsuits. Establishing an effective process for continuous safety improvement requires contractors to transform compliance-based mindsets to a holistic view of safety culture. Companies can use advanced tools like risk analytics to look at the causes of past incidents in order to reduce or eliminate them in future. In a true safety culture, legal compliance is a natural outcome instead of the primary driver. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
By: Tracy Bennett The correlation between physical and mental health is a topic worth discussing as the construction industry faces high suicide and substance use disorder rates. A recent article published by Conexpo-Con/Agg quoted Carol Nixon, PhD, research health scientist, NIOSH Spokane Mining Research Division. She said: “Manual labor increases risk of work-related injuries and strain; and pain is the most common reason for receiving an opioid prescription. Opioids are extremely addictive. It can take just five days to become addicted.” “The high rates of substance use disorder and overdose in industries like construction and mining are not an indictment of the workers who take these jobs,” Nixon says. “Rather, this is an urgent call to identify workplace factors that may contribute to these devastating outcomes and how those may be modified to prevent illness, injury and death and promote employee health and well-being.” Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
 Lifting over Manhattan Metropolitan Walters, a steel erector in the Tri-State area, faced a unique challenge when working on a project for the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The jobsite was located above FDR Drive and was surrounded on all sides by water, roadways, and buildings. Steel and other supplies had to be barged in and lifted by tower crane. Full Brim Face Shield from Studson STUDSON has announced three face shields, the Arc Flash Tint Welding Shield, the Clear Shield, and the Shade 5 Green Tint Shield. No Welding Required for Simpson Strong-Tie’s Yield-Link® Brace Connection Simpson Strong-Tie’s Yield-Link® Brace Connection (YLBC) for structural steel applications is used to dissipate energy through a fuse connection, creating a resilient steel frame that protects beams, columns, and braces during seismic and wind events. JLG Upgrades 40 ft Class Scissor Lift The new ES4046 electric scissor lift from JLG Industries boasts 40 percent more duty cycles than its predecessor R4045. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
|
RSS Feed
