The dawning of a new year has PHVAC industry experts cautiously optimistic about new opportunities that lie ahead in 2021. 

The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) published a new technical report related to the break resistance of PEX pipe and tubing when fluid inside becomes frozen.

There is a revolution happening in today’s plumbing marketplace, specifically when it involves domestic hot water system designs.

Best practices for designing and installing PEX to leverage the benefits of installation efficiencies, job-site safety and profitability potential.

According to a Gallup study, only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days. At any given company, it's not uncommon for employees to feel that their best efforts are routinely ignored.

As I write this month’s column, I’m attending Plumbing Manufacturer’s International annual Manufacturing Success conference in Louisville, Kentucky. PMI has done a great job with its programming content this year, especially with keynote presenter Andrew Winston, a corporate environmental strategist and author, who discussed how today’s companies are now expected to take a stand against the world’s social and environmental problems — and in doing so, earn a profit.

Many of us have heard the term, ‘The Great Resignation,’ in describing the massive amount of employee turnover the last few years. In 2021, federal data shows nearly 50 million workers left their jobs for various reasons — higher pay, new career opportunities and more. With an already strained job market in the skilled trades, employee retention is more important than ever.

In my years in the workforce, I’ve had jobs with amazing bosses and managers. On the flip side, I’ve also had terrible managers who made me question whether or not I wanted to stay in that organization.

Who can be nominated? Any professional working in any aspect of the plumbing industry, including plumbers and pipefitters, contracting business owners, professional engineers and plumbing designers, wholesalers, manufacturers and manufacturers reps.

A ‘differentiation standard’ can help you stand out from the rest as a top contractor.

Don’t let experience turn into complacency and a lack of differentiation.

Google “safety culture” and you get about 1,600,000,000 results in 0.95 seconds. Safety and health managers have long known the importance of culture – the organization’s values, beliefs and leadership - on safety, morale, productivity, engagement, presenteeism and absenteeism. Culture has been at the top of safety and health issues for the past ten years at least.

Hospitals, clinics and related medical centers can now choose from four new onsite consulting services introduced by  J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

The proposed rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat.

A new study summarizing exposures to asbestos during the installation and removal of asbestos cement products demonstrates that these construction activities almost always exceed U.S. occupational limits.

While regulations exist to minimize dangers of toxic substances in industrial plants, there are additional methods that can be incorporated to effectively reduce air pollution in these facilities.

The industrial gas safety series will further provide partners and customers with the ability to protect employees and their facilities when working near both toxic and hazardous gases.

A manufacturing plant has been dealing with hot machinery and punishing Texas heat. The buildings are made of tin with little insulation. That means it gets really hot. They solved this issue with evaporative coolers.

Exhibitor applications for A+A 2021, International Trade Fair with Congress for Safety, Security and Health at Work, are now available online at www.aplusa-online.com. The deadline for reserving exhibit space at A+A 2021 is December 1, 2020. The event will be held from October 26 – 29, 2021at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (“PIP^®”), a leading supplier of hand protection and PPE to the industrial, construction, and retail markets, proudly announces the acquisition of Primax Manufacturing & Trading, Inc. (“Primax”) and its innovative Caiman^® brand, headquartered in La Mirada, CA. PIP^® is a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity (“Audax”).

The OSH industry looks forward to A+A as a physical trade fair in autumn 2021. This is confirmed by the exhibitor registrations received to date. From October 26 – 29, 2021 over 1,000 companies will showcase their products, solutions and global innovations to predominantly European visitors at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

According to estimates published by market research institute Frost & Sullivan in 2021, the market for industrial exoskeletons will reach an average annual growth rate in excess of 40% over the coming years and reach a market volume of over $400M by 2025.

The ticket shop for A+A 2023 is now open! Secure your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable trade fair experience. Discover the latest innovations, make valuable contacts with decision-makers from the industry and immerse yourself in exciting specialist lectures and workshops.

The trade show and congress cover all aspects of a holistic prevention culture – from corporate health management and personal protection to workspace design and workplace safety management. 

In November 2023, OSHA investigators opened a complaint inspection after they observed employees not wearing protective equipment during structural demolition of a former hospital in Illinois.

True to its reputation of providing unparalleled protective welding gear for over 90 years, the John Tillman Company announced its new MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding glove.

National PPE manufacturer and distributor Magid has partnered with flame-resistant (FR) PPE and apparel company CarbonX to co-brand a line of FR garments that they’re calling Magid® FR by CarbonX®.

 
Two new glove options offer exceptional category 4 arc flash protection and pass rigorous safety testing for workers in high-risk industries.

Most professionals already understand the need for eye protection and burn prevention, but gas hazards deserve attention, too. Welding fume safety is an essential, if less evident, part of workshop safety.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is seeking a new Executive Director (ED), a position based in Park Ridge, Illinois and one that reports to the organization’s President and its Board of Directors. Founded in 1911, ASSE has a global membership of more than 36,000 safety, health and environmental practitioners worldwide. ASSE advocates on behalf of its members while also providing robust professional development, training and networking opportunities. ASSE has an annual budget of approximately $18M, staff of 75, and operates a robust network of 152 chapters in the United States and internationally.

Nitrile exam grade powder-free disposable gloves wit textured fingertips for enhanced gripping power.

Tyndale announces the completed expansion of their Houston DC to 118,260 square feet, which is more than 50% more square footage than its original size.

Maryland joins five states – California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington – that already have statewide heat standards in place. 

Many leading organizations are following the lead of innovative manufacturers and retailers by turning to virtual reality training solutions.

The Ventis Pro5 from Industrial Scientific is the most flexible connected gas monitor on the market

With such a strong desire to be connected, why don’t we feel this same need to be connected through the safety equipment at work?

This is the third serious incident involving the release of HF at the Louisiana facility in the last three years, official says.

A recent webinar focuses on chemical risk management, with a particular emphasis on the role of approvals, green chemistry, and hazard communication.

Learn about the risks posed by harsh weather conditions as well as a few essential guidelines for safely operating overhead cranes when the weather turns.

The owner of a Liverpool, Pennsylvania roofing company risked the lives of two of his children by exposing them to falls from heights.

In this podcast, we discuss how the industrial hygiene professional has evolved over the years as well as AIHA’s rebranding, and even AI as it relates to safety.

The Fenix brand has successfully entered the major outdoor/military/law enforcement markets, and is sold to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. With manufacturing based in Shenzhen, China, Fenix creates unique products in a company-owned facility, and exceeds industry standards with additional in-house testing protocols.

These five key elements are emerging as the foundation for omnichannel excellence and should be executed by distributors, according to NAW – the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

Many distributors looking for ways to fend off disruption (read Amazon) are considering how to repurpose legacy brick-and-mortar facilities, according to NAW – the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

Two-thirds of business economists in the U.S. expect a recession to begin by the end of 2020, with trade policy presenting the greatest risk to the expansion, according to a new survey reported by Bloomberg. So you can keep the panic button under lock and key.

The new index advances safety management by providing a scalable, actionable framework based on leading indicators to enhance safety outcomes across global supply chains.

Although obese employees incur higher direct and indirect costs, the extent of obesity-related costs tends to be lower in some industrial sectors — including healthcare, reports a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Dominique Lejeune, MSc, of Groupe d'analyse, Ltée, Montréal, QC, Canada, analyzed variations in the relationship between obesity and healthcare and other employee costs.

For most people, the benefits of aerobic exercise far outweigh the risks, however, extreme endurance exercise – such as participation in marathons and triathlons for people who aren’t accustomed to high-intensity exercise – can raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or heart attacks, according to a new Scientific Statement published in the Association’s premier journal Circulation.