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ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019) When you think of a hard hat, what do you picture? Do you picture the shell with a peak, a head band and harness? We have come to know these as the traditional style, or Type 1 hard hat. Type 1 hard hats work well, but what do we see happen when someone falls? We tend to see hard hats come off employees’ heads, especially when there is no chin strap.
Based on ANSI standards, Type 1 hard hats are designed to reduce forces as a result of an impact only to the top of the head. Performance requirements are as follows:
By Tracy Bennett In the last three years, SEAA has tripled its benefits programs and doubled in-person networking events. “By offering more opportunities for our members to connect and the chance to tap new hiring, training, and business resources, we are giving contractors the tools they are seeking to better run their businesses,” said R. Pete Gum, Executive Director. The average membership fee is $1,640, while the value of services available to members is greater than $30,000 annually. “Whether you are already a member, but not taking full advantage of the resources available to you, or you are not yet a member, this information is for you,” said Jack Nix, Chief Operations Officers for Shelby Erectors and Chairman of the Membership Committee. Shared connections Every association says the primary benefit of participation is the networking, but members of SEAA say it best themselves. SEAA holds an annual Convention & Trade Show that rotates between east and west locations. The 2024 event is April 2-5 in Glendale, Arizona. Other opportunities to meet include regional Meet & Greet receptions and Peer Group discussions that take place in conjunction with summer, fall, and winter Board of Directors meetings held at various locations around the country. The Dave Schulz Memorial Golf Tournament is a fundraiser event held every fall. It also alternates between east and west. “Our company is where it is today because of the networking through SEAA. For 25 years, SEAA has contributed to my personal growth as a business owner and the overall improvement of our company. Other members willingly answer questions pertaining to industry standards, OSHA regulations, subcontract language, and more,” said David Deem, President of Deem Structural Services and President of SEAA (2022-2024). Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
Gardner-Watson Decking’s President Geoff Kress and Vice President Jason Kulvinskas (center) surrounded by the rest of their team receive the World Class recognition for the Safety Excellence Award. By Macie Murie Worker safety is consistently one of the top priorities on any construction project, and with good reason. Since 2008, construction has experienced more total deaths than any other industry, and that figure doesn’t include fatalities from suicide. Our industry also has higher injury rates than most other professions, and unfortunately, safety costs. The industry loses $5 billion annually due to construction-related deaths. The number is measured by lost productivity, loss of family income, and pain and suffering, according to the Midwest Economic Policy Institute. However, today’s safety and training leaders recognize the impact of investing in creating a culture of safety. During a panel discussion at the 2023 Convention & Trade Show in St. Augustine, Florida, attendees were able to hear from the 2023 World Class Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Winners. The Safety Excellence Award went to seven SEAA member companies in three categories. Recipients were selected based on evaluations of their EMR ratings, OSHA 300 statistics, and safety program processes over the last three years. Scoring was based on points assigned to a multi-criteria analysis, conducted in blind review by members of SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. Applicants were evaluated on the portability of credentials, availability of apprenticeship programs, training, and recruitment efforts, in comparison to other companies of similar size. “Good safety records, comprehensive training aligned with long-term career paths, and awards recognitions, are among the criteria that prospective employees consider when deciding where to apply. Beyond the inherent value of being a safe company, it’s also a great marketing tool in a highly competitive market,” said outgoing Safety & Education Committee Chairman Bryan McClure, during the panel. The following are excerpts from the panel discussion. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
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October 19, 2023 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) has joined other industry association stakeholders of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP). Over 5,000 people working in construction die by suicide each year. That’s five times more than the annual number of jobsite fatalities.
“Within the construction industry, our niche is even more at risk. 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,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director of SEAA. On November 15, SEAA is offering a free webinar on mental health to help employers understand the risk factors, warning signs, and how to integrate suicide prevention training into all levels of an organization. Moderated by Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of CIASP, the webinar will feature panelists representing contractors, researchers, and suppliers who are experts on this topic. To sign up, visit seaa.net/webinar-registration. “The webinar is just the first of the activities SEAA has planned around this important topic,” said Glen Pisani, Vice Chairman of SEAA’s Marketing Committee. In the coming months, SEAA will launch a resource page on its website, feature a speaker at the 2024 Convention and Trade Show April 2-5 in Glendale, Arizona, and prepare an awareness campaign for the 2024 Suicide Awareness Month. “SEAA encourages members to make corporate commitments to STAND up,” said Gum. Learn more at preventconstructionsuicide.com. The STAND Up pledge Safe: We pledge to create a culture in which team members feel safe to ask for help if they are having suicidal thoughts or if they are concerned that their fellow co-workers are at risk of suicide. Training: We pledge to make suicide prevention training available to all team members so that they can recognize the warning signs and be equipped to help those at risk. Awareness: We pledge to raise awareness by sharing the message of suicide prevention through such organizational activities as trainings, safety meetings, toolbox talks, team meetings, newsletters, and social media posts. Normalize: We pledge to normalize the topic of suicide prevention as a health and safety priority by talking about suicide, suicide prevention, and mental health. Decrease: We pledge to help decrease the risk of suicide in construction by ensuring that all team members have access to an awareness of our EAP/MAP, behavioral health benefits, screening tools, community crisis support, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Crisis Text Line. About Steel Erectors Association of America Founded in 1972, SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors, and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its Ironworker Craft Training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. Learn more at www.seaa.net. January 30, 2023 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announces the launch of its new Learning Management System, SteelPros Training Portal, exclusively for members. Developed in partnership with Industrial Training International (ITI) and built on ITI’s Learning Hub platform, SEAA members now have easy access to custom content for ironworkers and other related training materials. Each of three Learning Paths—Ironworker Level 1, 2, and 3—contain multiple videos, which align with specific learning modules in the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Custom Curriculum. “SEAA has invested more than $120,000 to bring these professionally produced videos to our members,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director. Approximately 40 of 80 videos are available with the balance expected to be added to the Training Portal by Q2. The SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Custom Curriculum, which meets U.S. DOL apprenticeship standards, provides members with a tool for delivering nationally recognized ironworker credentials to their employees. “SEAA’s SteelPros Training Portal enhances the delivery of that training and opens access to additional training resources to all members, whether they are set up as an official SEAA/NCCER training unit or not,” said Gum. Every SEAA member will receive one free account and one license to access this member benefit. Additional licenses can be purchased for $35 each per year. “This is a vital resource for your safety directors or training managers—a member benefit valued at more than $10,000 per member,” said Jack Nix, Membership Committee Chairman. SEAA members will receive a 25% discount on ITI’s custom content for Field Leadership, Mobile Crane Maintenance and Operations, Rigging, and Site Hazard Recognition. Hundreds more third-party training content from organizations such as Crosby, Liebherr, Manitowoc, and Verton is free to access. In a separate agreement with The Crosby Group, SEAA members can purchase Crosby’s “User’s Guide for Lifting,” at 20% off the regular price. This training resource covers rigging fundamentals through a series of self-paced lessons that explain the Crosby User’s Guide for Lifting pocket rigging card. Each topic includes a video and a corresponding quiz. “More than just a library of training materials, SEAA’s, SteelPros Training Portal Learning Management System provides administrative features to track progress of learners, manage certifications, and create custom reports for individuals or groups inside your organization,” said Nix. “ITI is excited to partner with SEAA by bringing its members new digital learning content. Most companies today find it challenging to recruit, on-board, train and deploy people efficiently. SEAA and ITI will help solve that problem," said Zack Parnell, CEO and President of ITI. About Steel Erectors Association of America Founded in 1972, SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors, and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its Ironworker Craft Training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. Learn more at www.seaa.net. Click the link below to download the recall notice from 3M.
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