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Retrofitting an active warehouse

While forklifts were cruising the aisles of a warehouse in Grantsville, Maryland, a crew from BYCO Enterprises had to carefully retrofit that same space with 1,340 feet of gas line. 




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Feature-packed digital mixing valves

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




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Code change prompts parking garage pipe replacement

Time savings, cleanliness and ease of installation — there were many advantages to CRW Mechanical’s use of Viega MegaPressG recently on a large project in Virginia.




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Contractors create in-house training facilities to home-grow plumbing, HVAC techs

Every industry in the United States is currently feeling the constraints of the labor shortage. Employers continue to struggle to bring in new workers and keep existing ones. Job openings far outnumber individuals looking for work — in March, there were 11.5 million jobs to fill, and not enough workers to fill them, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. 




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Get creative to attract and retain top talent

Plumbing and HVAC contractors need to market themselves to potential employees just like they market to their customers.




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Contractors should prioritize giving back to their communities

Generosity is the new marketing. In this era of social media, charitable companies can earn an enhanced brand reputation as being a “good” company and will make people want to do business with them.




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AI solves pain points for contracting businesses

Embracing new technology can be challenging, but it can boost sales and productivity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize how plumbing contractors operate by enhancing employee capabilities.




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Inflation Reduction Act marks second anniversary

Last month marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most significant U.S. federal action on climate change. With over $369 billion allocated to energy and climate programs, the IRA has driven unprecedented growth in renewable energy, boosting solar, wind, and battery storage, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy costs.




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America’s return to global manufacturing leadership

Energy independence, anti-dumping laws aid slow return to power.




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Loan accessibility, online retailers shaping homeowner spending

Amazon is doing well, though a volatile political climate threatens small businesses’ growth.




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Beschloss: US manufacturing continues slow recovery

Infrastructure will continue to be an issue in 2018 and beyond.




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Adams Hudson: How not to choose a contractor

Selling — even upselling — is a service, and let no one tell you differently.




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Justin Jacobs: Does your direct mail marketing need a touch-up?

Direct mail hits on the high points that anyone would want from an effective marketing campaign: Print builds trust more easily than digital ads. 




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COVID-19 tips for plumbing contractors: How to adjust your mindset and your marketing

By following the tips below, you can mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on your business and lay some groundwork that will make your company more successful in the long run.




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Marketing Magic: 8 local SEO tips for plumbing and mechanical contractors

Many plumbing contractors ask the question: “What is the best way to advertise my business locally?”




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Marketing Magic: How contractors can get the most out of their fleet graphics and branding

According to a white paper authored by venture capital firm ARD Ventures, each fleet vehicle, on average, receives between 30,000 -70,000 impressions daily. 




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Not everybody has access to clean water and indoor plumbing

Life in Ghana: The search for water.




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Julius Ballanco: Families are the backbone of the plumbing industry

Thanks, Fred.




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Julius Ballanco: Preventing scalding during water heater replacement

Thermostatic mixing valves and common sense can help prevent injury and litigation.




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Julius Ballanco: Plumbing for aging in place

The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age, and many are planning to age in place. As the body ages, the use of plumbing fixtures changes. The aging body no longer has the strength and flexibility of the younger body.




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Dan Holohan: Creepy crawl spaces

October, being the month for ghosts and goblins, seems like the perfect time to reminisce about those tight spots few want to visit, but many must.




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An important skill for teaching tradespeople

Kids have a way of dragging us old folks back in time. My grandson, Brendan put me back on the road, 40 years ago, when I was spending most of my time teaching tradespeople about the joys of steam and hot-water heating.




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Dig deeper into system factors behind at-risk actions

Most readers are familiar with the common phrase, “The errors of our ways.“ So why am I talking about the intention of our ways -- not errors – in this article?




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How to attract, retain & reward employees

Our company has been roofing/remodeling injury-free since inception in 2004. The behavior of people is the predominant cause of accidents and the variable that is most easily changed. Although this article is based on our roofing experiences, the principles are easily applied to any industry, especially those that involve hard labor, high turnover, or dangerous conditions.




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Eliminating workplace distractions with Joe Boyle, CEO of TRUCE

ISHN Magazine sat down with Joe Boyle, CEO of TRUCE, to discuss strategies for eliminating workplace distractions. The following are excerpts from that conversation.




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Healthcare facilities gain expert help in meeting regulatory and accreditation requirements

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




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J. J. Keller to provide free safety & compliance event for healthcare facilities

Complimentary webcast on March 21 will cover the most pressing challenges in the Environment of Care and Life Safety.




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Mitigating health risks with AFFF in the workplace

Aqueous Film-Forming Foam has saved numerous lives with its effectiveness, but recent studies have revealed just how dangerous it is, chiefly due to the presence of PFAS.




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NIOSH to offer free black lung screenings for coal miners

The screenings are designed to support the early detection of black lung disease, a serious but preventable illness caused by prolonged exposure to coal mine dust.




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Innovations in workplace first aid

One of the major challenges in workplace safety is that people tend to think they’re invincible at work. This means they’re less likely to take the time to properly prepare for an emergency.




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The impact of ergonomics on musculoskeletal disorders and productivity

Ergonomics principles can guide employers towards systems that adapt to workers’ needs and decrease the potential for discomfort and harm.




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Looming Dockworker Strike's Impact on the Roofing Industry

A dockworker strike that could affect up to 36 ports along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts would significantly impact the economy; the roofing industry would not be spared.




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Standards and best practices for inspecting and assessing suspect silica dust

Learn about sources of silica dust and best inspection practices to improve indoor air quality and reducing health risk in facilities.




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Best practices for indoor air sampling at work

To support effective monitoring and compliance with safety standards, this article provides an overview on best practices for air sampling at work.




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A comprehensive guide to combustible dust best practices

This article describes potential sources of combustible dust and outlines best inspection practices for OSH professionals, certified industrial hygienists and certified remediators to perform the suspect combustible dust inspection.




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How to manage gas hazard risks in confined spaces

Confined space work is not limited to descending into compact areas, so it’s important to be prepared for safety both above and below ground.




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Reducing toxic emissions: A holistic approach for industrial sustainability

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.




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Acoustic panels quiet harsh noise in wastewater treatment plant

The Orange County Sanitation District in Huntington Beach, California provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services for approximately 2.6 million people. They had a combination of loud industrial equipment, cavernous space, and highly reflective surfaces creating an acoustic nightmare.




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Construction contractor Basewell tackles dust hazards

Establishing any construction project is a careful balancing act between many legal, financial and social responsibilities. Firms not only have a responsibility to shareholders and business partners, but to their workers, the local authority and site neighbors in the wider community as well.




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Touchless app for health screenings and contact tracing helps protect millions of dollars in bids for Ampirical

Many companies are still refining how they’ll safely bring employees back to the office. Yet not every business can operate with a 100 percent remote workforce. For some, essential employees need to be onsite at all times. Ampirical is one of those businesses.




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New access doors improve safety for workers at Connecticut Water Treatment Plant

Employees working at water treatment plants face danger every day. The work is inherently treacherous, as water makes every step potentially hazardous, and sometimes even life-threatening.




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How a Texas manufacturing facility solved a tricky situation and increased productivity

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.




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Workers must feel safe: Those going back to work are risking their lives

As the U.S. has begun to reopen with the coronavirus continuing to affect the country six months after many shelter-in-place mandates developed, workers across a multitude of industries — from manufacturing plants to agriculture to meat processing — are getting sick.




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Protective Industrial Products, Inc. acquires Primax Manufacturing & Trading Inc.

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”).




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Blackline Safety brings together organizations committed to workplace safety with Blackline Collective

Through cross-industry partnership, Blackline Collective empowers leaders with a forum to share experiences, best practices and strategies that improve worker safety, efficiency and quality




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Open science is a necessity for OHS best practices

This past November 2021, 193 countries attending UNESCO’s (UN’s science body) General Conference agreed to abide by common standards for open science.




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DOL awards $5M to help fight workplace discrimination, harassment; empower working women in Nigeria, Liberia

The project will focus on empowering women workers, communities and institutions and increasing their capacity to prevent and address discrimination, violence and harassment against women in the workplace. 




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Blackline Safety reports 50% growth in fire-hazmat business

Blackline Safety Corp. has announced a 50% increase in its fire-hazmat personal and area gas monitor business in the last year alone.




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OSHA: Subcontractor exposed employees to asbestos

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.




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The crucial role of generative AI in enhancing workplace safety: A comprehensive analysis

Generative AI, a subset of AI that can produce human-like content, has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing workplace safety.