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| MCAA National Update for December 15, 2014 |
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Multiemployer Pension Reform - Phase I Completed; Optimism over Phase II
With Congressional passage of the omnibus spending bill for 2015, which included the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, we have successfully completed Phase I of our two-year-plus effort to restructure federal pension law as it relates to multiemployer pension plans. The measure just passed strengthens the current multiemployer pension system by making needed technical corrections to the Pension Protection Act and by providing the most severely distressed pension plans with remedies to avoid insolvency. We have now set the stage for Phase II, the consideration by the next Congress of companion legislation to authorize new and innovative plan designs that will, most importantly, eliminate withdrawal liability going forward, or greatly reduce the potential for it to develop. Find out more about the reforms contained in the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 by visiting www.mcaa.org or by contacting jmcnerney@mcaa.org. |
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Mueller Industries Contributes $100,000 to MCERF
The contribution was announced last week by Mueller Industries' Brian Caufield (VP/GM Wholesale Plumbing) citing the synergy between Mueller Industries and MCERF in supporting a number of current and planned career development initiatives. "Mueller faces the same challenges all other MCAA members are now facing...finding and retaining world class talent...and MCERF is underwriting some very significant efforts to help both contractors and manufacturer-suppliers gain traction with the best students and faculty out there. We proudly support these efforts and are happy to make this contribution to demonstrate our support." By contributing $100,000, Mueller Industries becomes a member of the Foundation's Partnership Enterprise and will be inducted into the Enterprise at MCAA's convention in Maui. MCERF greatly appreciates this extremely generous contribution. Find out more about MCERF by visiting www.mcerf.org.
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NFPA Issues Revised Electrical Safety Standard - NFPA 70E - 2015
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised its standard on electrical safety in the workplace, referred to as NFPA 70E. The most current version, which becomes effective on January 1, 2015, is NFPA 70E - 2015. MCAA just released a safety bulletin summarizing the key changes to the standard that affect mechanical service work on HVAC equipment that pushes 480 volts or less. To access the bulletin, go to www.mcaa.org/private/safety.
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ALI Spaces Are Going Fast - Apply Now!
 If you or a member of your executive management team has been considering applying to the Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI), now is the time. A recent influx of applications for Course 15 promise that the course will fill up very soon. Executives in our industry know that an ALI leadership education is the best hedge against future uncertainties facing our businesses. The curriculum focuses on strategic planning and leadership development that addresses today's and tomorrow's toughest business challenges. Whether the issues are just beginning to emerge or demanding action now, the ALI will prepare you to develop and implement effective solutions. A new module on "Branding" and another on "Customer Partnerships" enhance the value of the program. The branding module will include WebEx-delivered components during the interim period between Week 1 and Week 2. Dates for ALI's Course 15 are: September 27-October 2, 2015 (Week 1) and November 8-13, 2015 (Week 2). To request an application or learn more about the ALI, please contact Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).
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Need to Brush Up on Your First Aid and CPR Procedures? Safety Directors' Pre-Conference Courses are Available
If you are attending the Annual Safety Directors' Conference in San Antonio, TX (January 27-29, 2015) and you would like to enhance or update your training in first aid and CPR procedures, four courses are available before the conference begins. Two courses provide training to instructors in those procedures and the other two will instruct those who will render the services. The First Aid Instructor and CPR/AED Instructor courses will take place on January 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on January 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The First Aid and CPR/AED courses will take place on January 27 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Both sets of courses will take place at the same location as the conference. To sign up for a course, please contact Beth Miller at bmiller@mcaa.org or call 800-556-3653.
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Start Off 2015 Right - Attend MCAA's 12th Annual Safety Directors' Conference
 Begin the new year with the latest information about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations and other recent developments affecting workplace safety and health issues by attending MCAA's 12th Annual Safety Directors' Conference (January 27-29, 2015, San Antonio, TX). MCAA and CNA are co-sponsoring this valuable conference for those responsible for protecting employee health and safety for the mechanical construction and service industry. The conference will feature Dr. Kevin Elko on How to Achieve Greatness at Work and in Life and sessions on the Physical Effects of Fall Arrest and Effective Rescue Planning, changes to NFPA 70E, Health and Wellness for Mechanical Construction Workers, RF Radiation Exposures and Prevention, and much more. Conference details and online registration are available at http://www.mcaa.org/education/mcaa/safety.
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Next NFPA Safety Training Webinar is Still Open for Registration
 Now is the time to sign up your employees who work with electricity for one of the NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars. The next webinars will take place on December 18, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, so don't delay. The webinar content is specifically designed for employees who are potentially exposed to live conductors of 50 volts of electricity or more during their workday, and especially mechanical service technicians who work on units that generate up to 480 volts. They will learn safe work practices that will prevent incidents, injuries and worse. Presented by The Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices, NFPA's most recent changes to the 70E requirements and provides participants with real-world accident information to reinforce the training. Contact the Hilgeman Group (ahilgeman@frontier.com) to register.
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MCAA/CNA Offer Two Ways to Gain Recognition for Safety Achievements
The MCAA and CNA are sponsoring two safety awards programs - the MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards and the MCAA Safety Certificates of Commendation Program. The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards are the most prestigious safety awards in the mechanical construction and service industry, and electronic applications are available at www.mcaa.org/safetyawards. The deadline for completed applications is January 6, 2015. Awards are based on each participating company's safety performance in 2014, and all MCAA/MSCA members are eligible to compete. Participating companies submit an application that includes a brief description of the company and its safety program, a statement about why the company deserves a top safety award and a brief description of an innovative safety initiative implemented by the company in 2014. The winners will be announced at the Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony during MCAA 2015 in Wailea, Maui, HI. The MCAA Safety Certificates of Commendation Program opens on January 15, 2015; go to the link above for an annual report form. Every company that submits a completed report form will receive a confidential benchmarking report that compares their company's occupational injury incidence rates with the aggregate rates of the other participants in the same size category and with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry averages for the mechanical construction industry. Members that qualify for a certificate of commendation will receive it in April. Reports are due to MCAA by March 31, 2015. Please contact Pete Chaney with questions at pchaney@mcaa.org.
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The MCAA National Update is is a weekly publication of the
Mechanical Contractors Association of America
1385 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.
Questions? Contact Ann Mattheis, Editor, Phone: 301-869-5800; Fax: 301-990-9690
Copyright � 2014 MCAA
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