​Billy DeWitt (William Howard DeWitt Jr.), of Florence, S.C., died on May 10, 2022 at the age of 83.  DeWitt was the retired CEO of Florence Steel Erectors, Inc., where he worked for 30 years. In 1986, he served as President of the Steel Erectors Association of Virginia and the Carolinas (now the Steel Erectors Association of America.) Read his obituary or sign the online tribute wall hosted by Soudenmire Dowling Funeral Home.
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“The early members of the organization that preceded SEAA set a foundation for sharing best practices. As we celebrate our 50th year this year, we recognize and appreciate the contributions of people like Billy DeWitt,” said Geoff Kress, President of Gardner-Watson Decking and past president of SEAA (2020-2021). 

Several SEAA members include steel fabricators who have been seeking training for fabrication personnel for skills such as blueprint reading, math and measuring, in addition to cutting and welding techniques. NCCER is actively exploring the interest level for development of this type of curriculum. Fabrication companies can provide input by completing this survey. 

This is the full link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9510c8342f034036acfc23521358da9f

David Alan Schulz was born October 9, 1954 in Saginaw, Michigan. He died December 19, 2020 at his home in Sanford, North Carolina. He was 66.

Known by his friends as Dave, he was a hardworking ironworker who started his career in construction in 1973 erecting grain dryers and boilers. Described as a funny, kind, and generous fireball of a personality, Dave was certainly rough around the edges. But that exterior belied a heart of gold.

With more gumption than money, he and his wife Cindy, opened Schulz Iron Works, Inc., in 1999 equipped with not much more than a pickup truck and credit card. Anyone who ever observed Dave and Cindy together knows that they just fit together. Married for 34 years, he adored her beyond measure.

Cindy serves as President, managing the business side of Schulz Iron Works, while Dave as Vice
President, remained hands on, reportedly working as many as six days a week, often in the field.
Together they assembled a team that today is about 45 people strong and feels more like family than employees. Several have been with Schulz Iron Works for 20+ years.

Generous with both his time and finances, Dave was a man of second chances, affording many of his employees an opportunity for a fresh start and a career path. He supported them in more ways than just a paycheck, investing in their personal and professional lives. For example, he was godfather to one team member’s child and made sure another had a company truck with a king cab, suitable for toting children in car seats to school.

In much the same way, he was passionate about safety, which was a key reason he joined the Steel
Erectors Association of America in 2001. Schulz Iron Works was one of the first companies to become an accredited training and assessment site in the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Craft Training Program, which he later expanded to also include crane operator and rigger training for his employees. He shared these training resources with other companies; on more than one occasion brought nearly one-fourth of his crew to SEAA’s annual conventions; and put his all into fundraising for SEAA’s education and training programs.

Dave first joined the SEAA board of directors in 2007. He served on the Safety & Education Committee for several years and more recently led the planning for SEAA’s Annual Education Fundraiser Golf Tournament at Lonnie Poole Golf Course located on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh, N.C. In typical Dave style, he agreed to not charge a customer for change orders if the company supported the golf tournament. That charitable mind set permeated much of the company’s activities with donated supplies and labor for Raleigh-area community projects and the NC State Student Steel Bridge Competition.

An unofficial ambassador of SEAA, Dave was named the association’s Person of the Year in 2009 and was elected President in 2018. Achieving this goal was a life-long dream of Dave’s which at times may have seemed like wishful thinking to anyone but Dave. The man was not polished—he wore red sneakers with his dress pants—and at times he had no filter, which was often hilarious. But when he screwed up, he learned from it. His energy and passion for life was amazing; his kindness overwhelming. 

3M Fall Protection has determined that the 3M™ PROTECTA® Cobra Mobile/Manual Rope Grab AC202D is incorrectly stamped for use with 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter rope on the exterior body of the unit. This Cobra Rope Grab is certified for use ONLY with 5/8 inch diameter polyester or polypropylene rope. All marketing information and the Instructions for Use (IFU) for this rope grab correctly identify the size of rope to be used as 5/8 inch polyester/polypropylene rope.

In the event of a fall from height, a Cobra Rope Grab used with 1/2 inch diameter rope may not arrest the fall and could result in serious injury or death to the worker. To remedy this situation, 3M is launching a Stop Use & Product Recall to replace all AC202D and related Cobra Rope Grabs that are stamped 1/2"—3/4" Dia.

Users/Owners: Immediately stop using and inspect your Cobra Rope Grab as described below:

• Step 1: Verify the rope diameter is stamped 1/2"—3/4" Dia on the front side of the unit
  
• Step 2: Verify the rope grab is stamped PROTECTA COBRA on the front side of the unit
  
• Note: If the unit is stamped 5/8 inch diameter OR if the unit has a white label showing 5/8 inch diameter, then the unit is safe to return to normal use (see image on right for correct 5/8” diameter marking).