More than 100 safety champions and leaders in the sheet metal industry gathered Aug. 28-29 in Falls Church, Virginia, to “celebrate the small things” — as the theme of this year’s conference urged. Attendees looked to the future and shared strategies, resources and personal stories during two days of growth and networking organized by the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT). The conference space was awash in bright colors, with snacks on the tables and a recharging area complete with couch, chairs and plants.
“That recharging area is for people, not phones,” said Aldo Zambetti, SMOHIT administrator and longtime mental health advocate. “When you put it into context, we let our phones recharge so that they don’t die — think about the language there. We worry more about our phone dying than ourselves.”
One recurring theme was gratitude toward General President Mike Coleman of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and the rest of SMART leadership for passing a resolution forming an official mental health committee. Labor leaders need to talk about mental health, said John Daniel, SMART general secretary treasurer, the first to take the conference stage. Modeling choices like going to therapy or monitoring high blood pressure can plant seeds, he urged.
“As industry and labor leaders, let’s talk more about ‘we’ and less about ‘I,’” Daniel said. “Honor the people who came before you by charting a course that takes us to a better place, for the people that come after.”
Dan McCallum, executive director of the unionized sheet metal Funds — SMOHIT, the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) and International Training Institute (ITI) — followed Daniel’s example and scrapped his prepared statement. He instead looked back at the transformation in the three funds he oversees, and how programs have evolved. McCallum singled out the SMOHIT Helpline, 877-884-6227, which members can call 24/7 if they need help but aren’t sure where to turn.
“I can’t imagine there is any better helpline that any construction industry has than this fund,” he said. “There is so much value to the SMOHIT fund now … don’t be ashamed to come and ask for help, it does change lives.”
Carol Duncan, president of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), reminded everyone that safety is often the sum of many little actions, so celebrating the small things made sense. Making it through the pandemic — when being “essential” felt like being “expendable,” Duncan noted — left a mark on many workers.
Keynote speaker Big Daddy Tazz, a larger-than-life comedian and mental health communicator, wore florescent pink under his gunmetal grey button-up shirt and had the broad smile of a working-class Santa Claus. Clean and sober for 27 years, Tazz shared his personal trauma and triumphs. He stressed that if someone thinks asking for help is showing weakness, and they ask anyway, they are showing great strength, great power. Asking friends and coworkers how they are and taking action in time is key.
“Call an ambulance so that you don’t have to call the morgue,” Tazz said.
The Member Assistance Program, or SMART MAP, was explained by SMART Director of Wellness and Mental Health Chris Carlough; SMOHIT Field Representative Ed Robison; Holburn; and Ben Cort, principal consultant at Cort Consulting. From teaching members how to be mental health first responders and how to teach their peers to do the same to naloxone training and the SMOHIT Helpline, Cort said no one looks at the mental health of its members like SMART.
“I’ve worked for major sports organizations, and multiple Fortune 500 companies, and they all talked a big game,” Cort said, “but no one has put the resources in like sheet metal.”
That first evening, attendees gathered for the 2024 Safety Matters Awards. Winners included Anthony Aarns, safety director and trainer at SMART Local 265 in Carol Stream, Illinois; Nathan Allred, a mental health advocate at R.F. Knox in Smyrna, Georgia; Patrick Mingucci, safety director at Industrial Enterprises in Jefferson City, Missouri; and Marvin Tavarez, business agent at SMART Local 28 in Jamaica, New York.
An Award of Recognition went to Imagine Communications, based in Henderson, Nevada, for the work their entire team has done to support SMOHIT’s mission. Zambetti singled out owner and creative director Alex Raffi for his effort on a pro bono animation project, “It’s Not Your Fault,” illustrating how union brothers and sisters can help when hope seems lost. Diane Blackburn of Blackburn Occupational Health Specialists also received an Award of Recognition, and Zambetti spoke about the book of elderly retirees’ numbers she keeps, so she can call and make sure they get what they need.
At evening’s end, a new award was unveiled: a copper trophy dubbed the Chris Carlough You Are Not Alone Award. Reserved for extraordinary achievements, the honor immortalizes its first recipient, Carlough, for his efforts to safeguard the mental health of SMART members. Zambetti reminded attendees the Carlough name is a dynasty in the industry, with Chris Carlough’s father, Edward J. Carlough, and grandfather, Edward F. Carlough, both having served as general president of the union — it was Chris Carlough’s father who created SMOHIT in the 1980s.
Other conference speakers included Dr. Calvina Ellerbe, who showed members how to embrace conflict and turn challenges into growth opportunities, and SMACNA CEO Aaron Filger, who applauded the change in culture he has witnessed. SMOHIT Program Administrator Jeff Bradley discussed newer, more convenient approaches to health screenings and updated members on the SMOHIT website’s features, including megaproject guides. These guides help sheet metal workers who have traveled to work at a megaproject city find their way around new surroundings. Mirrored on the SMOHIT app, these guides also include access to local 12-step programs, which helps those in recovery maintain much-needed routine.
Justin Crandol, director of safety at SMACNA, and Jason Galoozis, chair of SMACNA’s safety committee, energetically took the stage to the 1982 hit, “Safety Dance.” They reminded members that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) was formed in 1971, making it younger than many local unions. Galoozis recalled his father was given salt pills and an asbestos coat to do his job — in other words, safety has come a long way. Gary Gustafson, director of the environmental hazards training program with CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, briefed attendees on the organization’s resources and grand-funded training. ITI Field Staff Representative Darek Scarlavai briefed attendees on Mine and Safety Health Administration (MSHA) classifications and safety requirements.
Aaron Krahn, training coordinator at SMART Local 18’s Fox Valley training center in Wisconsin, was a first-time attendee who said he decided to come because the SMART Member Assistant Program (MAP) mental health awareness session he attended had been one of the most impactful of his career. The conference more than met his expectations.
“It made me want to bring back ideas to our local training center and membership about mental health awareness,” he said. “The SMOHIT staff is very knowledgeable and brings these programs to new heights. They set the bar very high.”
To end, Robison led the room through naloxone, also known as Narcan, training. A safe, effective way to instantly counteract opioids and fentanyl in someone’s bloodstream, administered naloxone can stop an overdose long enough to get someone to a hospital where treatment can continue. With construction workers dying of overdose at three times the rate of other workers, this drug and the proper training can make a big difference in the industry.
“You’re going to take this home,” Zambetti said as the conference wrapped. “You know what your resources are — not just the business cards you collected from the people you sat with, the people you met, the stories you heard. Tomorrow starts when you leave those doors and it never ends.”
For more information on SMOHIT or the Safety Champions Conference, visit smohit.org or call 703-739-7130.
