Does anybody else feel like 2022 just flew right by, or is it just me? It seems too early for Christmas decorations and music — just a few short weeks ago, Michigan was still having 70-degree weather! But ‘tis the season!

As the water receded from Lake Mead this past year, all the major news headlines focused on the human remains it revealed. Very rarely did any mention the ecosystem in crisis as trees, fish and other aquatic creatures, birds and other species are dying out as they are left out to dry.

When I first started working for Plumbing & Mechanical’s sister publication, The ACHR NEWS in 2014, I was often the only woman in the room at industry events. Those first few conferences were just a bit intimidating. In fact, it wasn’t until a HARDI annual conference that I first met other women in the industry — shout out to Colleen Keyworth, director of sales and marketing for Online-Access and immediate past president of Women in HVACR, for her immediate friendship then and for all the years since!

BNP Media’s Plumbing Group is finally settling back in after a whirlwind of travel this past month. We’ve been racking up those frequent flier miles attending NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), IMARK Plumbing, the AHR Expo and the WWETT show. While there was a ton to see at each event, for the purposes of this column, we’re going to focus on KBIS.

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.

Fall is conference and tradeshow season in the plumbing and HVAC world.

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

When a plumbing contracting company wants to grow, it can expand its geographic area by opening a new location, adding a new trade, or buying out another business.

The construction industry is often associated with strength, resilience and tough work. However, there has been an alarming rise in mental health challenges. MCAA is taking that to heart with the first-ever public release of its suicide prevention video.

As a writer covering HVAC and plumbing, I was often the only woman in the room. But that's changing, and more women are finding success in these industries. As Judaline Cassidy said, "Jobs don't have genders."

There is a growing trend in the skilled trades, with more people turning away from the traditional four-year college path.

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.

I reached out to some of the best coaches in the industry for some perspective on communicating clearly and effectively with customers and each other and best practices for how contractors should handle communication breakdowns.

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

Meanwhile, the fate of the estate tax could affect small businesses for years to come.

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.

Sales and marketing aren’t the same thing, but they can be powerful when combined.

No longer an optional form of advertising, digital marketing has become the norm. 

There’s no question that the demand for home improvement projects is red hot. 

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

Have you ever had one of those times when you’re trying to figure out some problem and then suddenly the solution comes to you as if by magic? 

Frozen steam coils always seem to happen at the worst of times, don’t they? You’re busy because it’s cold enough to freeze coils. The place with the frozen coil contains people who are doing things that are so important they can’t possibly be without that particular coil. Not even for a minute. They’re on the phone, and they’re not being reasonable.

I began my career in the HVAC business in 1970 as a truck driver for an AC/refrigeration wholesaler. I stayed there just six weeks because my father — who worked for a manufacturers’ rep — told me there was an opening for a clerk at the rep. It paid $110 a week, which was $10 more than I was getting driving the truck. Plus, I’d get to work with him as my boss.

It was one of those days at HeatingHelp.com when the old guys had the floor. One of the regulars, a retired (and understandably crotchety) fella from Canada had this to say:

Not long ago, Ray asked the Wallies who post daily on The Wall at HeatingHelp.com what advice they would give someone just starting out in this business. Here’s some of what they had to say. There’s a lot of street-smart experience here.

Another photo appeared and this one had a woman in it. She was holding a long wrench and the business end was attached to one of the risers to the boiler’s drop-header.

267
ACCA62 KNHC 131220
TWOSAT

Perspectiva sobre las Condiciones del Tiempo en el Trópico
Centro Nacional de Huracanes del SNM Miami FL
700 AM EST miércoles 13 de noviembre de 2024

Corregido para agregar información sobre los pronósticos de alta mar
y los avisos de tormentas.

Para el Atlántico Norte...Mar Caribe y el Golfo de México:

Mar Caribe Central y Occidental (AL99): Una amplia área de baja
presión sobre el Mar Caribe central continúa produciendo una gran
área de aguaceros y tormentas eléctricas. Las condiciones
ambientales son propicias para el desarrollo, y es probable que se
forme una depresión tropical en los próximos dos días mientras el
sistema se mueve lentamente hacia el oeste hacia el Mar Caribe
occidental. Después, es probable que se desarrolle aún más mientras
la perturbación serpentea sobre el Mar Caribe occidental durante el
fin de semana. Se espera que el sistema gire lentamente hacia el
noroeste a principios de la próxima semana. Los intereses a través
del Mar Caribe occidental y noroeste deben monitorear el progreso de
este sistema. Independientemente del desarrollo, se esperan fuertes
lluvias sobre Jamaica durante el próximo día. Para más información
sobre este sistema, incluidos los avisos de galerna, vea los
pronósticos de alta mar emitidos por el Servicio Nacional de
Meteorología. Un avión de la Fuerza Aérea Huracán Hunter investigará
este sistema más tarde hoy.
* Probabilidad de formación hasta 48 horas...alta...90 por ciento.
* Probabilidad de formación hasta 7 días...alta...90 por ciento.

&&
Los pronósticos de alta mar emitidos por el Servicio Nacional de
Meteorología se pueden encontrar bajo el encabezado de AWIPS
NFDHSFAT1, el encabezado de la OMM FZNT01 KWBC y en línea en
ocean.weather.gov/shtml/NFDHSFAT1.php

$$
Pronosticador Kelly

*** Este producto ha sido procesado automáticamente utilizando un
programa de traducción y puede contener omisiones y errores. El
Servicio Nacional de Meteorología no puede garantizar la precisión
del texto convertido. De haber alguna duda, el texto en inglés es
siempre la versión autorizada. ***

The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new resource to help employers better understand mental health issues, and obtain guidance on how to cultivate a work environment that supports employees with related conditions.

Since mind not on task is bound to happen if you know how to do something well, there is much more “leverage” or efficiency in getting people to put more effort than they are currently making (none) into improving their safety-related habits.

Thousands of ISHN subscribers voted online for the most innovative personal protection equipment (PPE) and occupational health and safety products, and now the results of ISHN's 2018 Readers' Choice Awards are in!

Thousands of ISHN subscribers voted online for the most innovative personal protection equipment (PPE) and occupational health and safety products, and now the results of ISHN's 2019 Readers' Choice Awards are in!

Thousands of ISHN subscribers voted online for the most innovative personal protection equipment (PPE) and occupational health and safety products, and now the results of ISHN's 2020 Readers' Choice Awards are in!

Thousands of ISHN subscribers voted online for the most innovative personal protection equipment (PPE) and occupational health and safety products, and now the results of ISHN's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards are in!

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

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

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.

This relentless commitment to cleanliness is critical in navigating the complex regulatory compliance landscape, ensuring your facility stands out for all the right reasons. 

As we recognize the evolving landscape of employee engagement, it's clear that well-being initiatives play a crucial role in fostering this engagement. 

The National COSH announced the 2024 “Dirty Dozen” list of employers who put workers and communities at risk due to unsafe practices.

As part of the rulemaking process, the agency will seek and consider input from a ride range of stakeholders and the public at-large as it works to propose and finalize its rule.

Mine workers are experiencing an increase in dangerous health effects from heat exposure as surface temperatures get hotter and underground mines get deeper.

NTSB investigators said failed wheel bearing caused Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Casella has launched an enhanced version of its Vortex3 high flow pump, designed to simplify asbestos and air sampling.

Silica is released into the air during the construction process and breathing it in can lead to cancer. Use this guide to learn how to work safely with silica in every setting.

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.

Sensidyne® launches Gilian® Go-Cal^TM Pro, an advanced portable air flow calibrator designed to revolutionize precision calibration on the jobsite.

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.