Message from the President
Date postedNovember 16, 2020
It's November! Right now everyone should be busy thinking about turkey... um..I mean wrapping up 2020 and planning for 2021. If your plans for 2021 include training (and they should) read on.
Last month in this column, I shared some effective (and free) marketing tools available with your membership in MBCEA. This month, let's talk about effective and free training tools.
Did you know we have a members area chock full of templates and documents that have been freely shared by other members? Examples include hiring documents, installation checklists, drug testing policy, and even many forms for project planning such as lift plans and erection narratives. Don't recreate the wheel; there is probably a perfectly good document ready for your use. Download it, modify it to your specs and begin using!
Don't think the members area is just old Conference presentations and documents (although they are good!); there is also a trove of training tools. Did you know you could download the full transcripts to the MBI Quality and Craftsmanship series? Think of the possibilities for running an in-house training session armed with these notes!
How about training, intended to be presented by your qualified safety trainer, complete with notes and tests on topics such as Bolting & Aligning, Controlled Decking Zone, Fall Protection Basics, Globally Harmonized System (GHS), and Rigging Basics. Right at your fingertips, with a few easy clicks is everything you need for your next next rainy day training session.
Also in this area are the documents and tools you need to begin the process to become accredited, to prove your quality and to achieve AC478. While we are on the topic of AC478, I would also like to invite you to a roundtable ZOOM on Friday 11/20 at 3PM EST.
Our panel includes: Dan Halme, Halme Builders, Jennifer Heimburger, Heimburger Construction, Walter Mershon, IAS and yours truly. Hear why we decided accreditation was important for our companies. Listen to shared lessons learned on the application process. Meet the man who will perform your assessments. You do not want to miss this!
The quality of the documents we have available is thanks to some very generous members who freely shared. I urge you to consider the same. If you have a form or a checklist that is really useful, if you have a training tool you like, send a copy to Sasha for posting in the members area. We are stronger together!
Lastly, our nation's Covid numbers continue to rise. We are seeing a resurgence of the virus and escalation of hospitalizations and deaths. I know we are suffering from pandemic fatigue and are much less fanatical about social distancing, mask wearing and hand-washing. But these are the best tools we have right now to stay ahead of this thing. I speak as someone who is currently quarantining after being exposed to Covid. I urge all of you to take Covid seriously and lead by example. Enforce mask wearing, social distancing and hand-washing on your jobs and in your offices, consider alternatives to holiday parties.
As we count our blessings next week at Thanksgiving, know that I am thankful to be a part of this great association. My business is stronger thanks to you. I hope yours is too.
#Reachingnewheightstogether
Stay Safe!
Art Hance
President, MBCEA
President, Hance Construction
P.S. We are now accepting ideas for next year's conference. Please consider speaking /presenting.