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| MCAA National Update for February 23, 2015 |
Today's Maui Forecast: Sunny with a Low of 70 and a High of 81!
Aren't you glad you registered for MCAA 2015? Put down that snow shovel and dust off those golf clubs! Also, with another great MCAA convention just two weeks away you'll want to make the most of your Maui experience by downloading our convention app. Just go to the Apple App or Google Play store and search for MCAA 2015. Mahalo for attending and we'll see you there!
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MCAA Announces the New "ALI-G"...and Upgrades to the ALI
 MCAA and its ALI Committee officially announced the new Advanced Leadership Institute - Graduate (ALI-G) program last week. The high-intensity, three-day ALI-G will be conducted at the Babson Executive Education Center in Wellesley, MA on June 17-20. The new offering was carefully crafted by MCAA's ALI Committee in concert with the leaders of Babson Executive Education, and the faculty members were hand-picked for the program. Attendance will be strictly limited to 30 ALI alumni, and attendees will be accepted on a first-come/first-served basis. This program was created in response to ALI alumni calls for "what's next?" Registrations for this tip-of-the-spear program are...as expected...moving briskly. And, if you have not yet experienced the Advanced Leadership Institute, ALI Course 15 (September 27 - October 2 and November 9 - 13, 2015) will feature new faculty members and variations of new labs, practices, and curriculum that resulted from the development of ALI-G. A few spots remain for ALI Course 15, so apply now. For any questions you may have about the ALI-G, the ALI or to obtain a registration form or application, contact Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).
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Hiring a Student Intern? Apply for a Student Internship Grant!
 If you have hired a student to fill an internship or coop position, be sure to apply for a Student Internship Grant from the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF). The grants are $1,500 for each student intern or coop hired. Go to www.mcerf.org/internships for information and a quick, easy online grant application form. The check will be mailed within a few days of when we receive the application. (As of February 20, $96,000 in grants had already been distributed to MCAA member firms!) And, if you are just beginning to search for a great candidate to fill a student intern, coop or full-time position, your best, easiest and most cost-efficient resource is MCAAGreatFutures.org. So far, 124 students have posted their resumes, profiles and photos on the website as a first step in building their great future.The program will be a prominent feature of MCAA 2015. Members who hire an intern at the convention will also be able to apply for a Student Internship Grant for immediate on-site processing. Please contact Ann Mattheis at amattheis@mcaa.org for more information.
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Hazard Communication Standard Compliance Deadline is June 1
Mechanical industry employers must be in compliance with the second to the last compliance deadline for the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard by June 1, 2015. The following must be in place: an up-to-date, written hazard communication program; an up-to-date chemical information list (as part of the written program); a current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical substance on the chemical information list; all chemical containers properly labeled in accordance with the new GHS labeling requirements; and all employees trained on hazard communication, including the new chemical container labeling elements and format changes for all SDSs. Please note - If you purchase your chemical supplies from a distributor, you may still receive chemical products with obsolete labels until December 1, 2015. If you identify new hazards after December 1, 2015 due to reclassification of hazardous chemicals, you have until June 1, 2016 to include those hazards in your hazard communication program, in your workplace labeling, and in your employees' training. For more information, contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org or 800-556-3653. If you would like information about a highly recommended safety data sheet, chemical labeling, and/or hazard communication program service, please ask about SDS BinderWorks or visit www.sdsbinderworks.com. |
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Cultivate Your Leadership Skills with MSCA's The TEAM Thing Webinar Series
 MSCA will host the second webinar in The TEAM Thing series on April 1 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Created by MSCA to support contractors in leadership development, this six-part series is taught by acclaimed MSCA presenter Steve Thomas, who is best known for teaching 2014 conference attendees how to "navigate through human weirdness." Through these sessions, participants will learn the true definition of a team and how to embody that spirit both as a collaborator and a leader. Registration is open at https://msca.webex.com. Tentative dates for the remaining webinars are June 3, September 2, November 4, and December 6. This series is free to all MCAA/MSCA members as a benefit. For more information, contact Barbara Dolim (bdolim@mcaa.org).
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NFPA's 70E Qualified Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinar is Still Open for Registration
 The webinars will take place on February 24, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar was specifically designed for mechanical service technicians who work on units that generate up to 480 volts, to learn about safe work practices that will prevent incidents, injuries and worse. The Hilgeman Group leads the session which covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements (including NFPA's recent changes to 70E which took effect on January 1), best practices 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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Register Now for NCPWB's 2015 Technical Committee Meeting
 If you're looking for a great way to get the latest information about welding, brazing and welder qualifications, NCPWB's 2015 Technical Committee Meeting is an excellent resource. The meeting will take place at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ, April 19-21. Featured speakers will cover the latest developments in welding technology. This meeting also brings together friends, colleagues and acquaintances - a great networking opportunity. To register and for more information, go to www.mcaa.org/education/ncpwb. Please contact Nick Nikpourfard at nnikpourfard@mcaa.org with questions.
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Celebrate Safety Week 2015
 MCAA is celebrating Safety Week (May 4 - 8) as a way of leading and inspiring our industry to promote safe work practices. MCAA joined 40 construction companies and trade associations in establishing Safety Week to commend workers for working safely, increase their awareness of applicable safety topics and hazards, inspire them to work safely, educate them about safe work practices and celebrate their good health and well-being. Each day of Safety Week will focus on a different occupational safety topic. Participants may highlight the topics within their companies however they choose. The topics for 2015 are: May 4 - Fall Protection; May 5 - Soft Tissue Incidents; May 6 - Health and Wellness; May 7 - Hand Protection or Head and Eye Protection; and May 8 - Celebrate and Recognize Positive Safety Accomplishments. MCAA encourages all members to participate in Safety Week 2015. To learn more about Safety Week visit www.safetyweek2015.com.
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Enhance Service Supervisors' Skills with MSCA Training
 Growing and Developing Service Supervisors, one of MSCA's most popular classes, is back. This two-day course will be held April 23-25 at MILWAUKEE TOOL headquarters in Brookfield, WI. Specifically developed for field service supervisors, this training will help them understand how to coach, mentor, manage, and motivate their technicians. Each attendee will receive a comprehensive manual containing more than 100 forms and worksheets to use for day-to-day responsibilities in areas such as safety, operations, training, tools, and vehicles. Sign-up for this program at www.mcaa.org/education/msca/superservice. Contact Sobeida Orantes (saorantes@mcaa.org) with registration questions.
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Send in Your Company's Safety Data
It's that time of year again...the season for sending your company's 2014 safety data to MCAA. We'll send you a safety benchmarking report and, if your company qualifies, we'll send you an MCAA Safety Certificate of Commendation. To receive the certificate, your company must have achieved a Lost Workday Cases Incidence Rate of zero or one that is 25% or more below the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average for mechanical construction in 2014. Regardless of your 2014 safety record, MCAA will send you a benchmarking report that allows you to confidentially compare your company's incidence rates with the aggregates of others in your size category and with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for the mechanical industry. To make the request, please visit www.mcaa.org/safetycommendation and complete a short, simple form using your company's 2014 OSHA 300A form as a guide. The completed forms are due to MCAA by the close of business on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. The certificates will be delivered during April 2015.
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Advance the Skills of Entry-Level Service Sales Employees with MSCA's Sales Basecamp
 The newly launched MSCA Sales Institute will help develop the skillsets of your entry-level service sales staff through its Sales Basecamp program. Scheduled for May 4-5 in Baltimore, MD, this course will prepare employees new to service sales and/or the HVACR and plumbing industry to confidently sell services while creating added value for the customer. Topics that will be covered include understanding the MSCA Sales Cycle, building trust with potential customers, effectively linking features with needs, and handling objections professionally during the proposal presentation. Registration is now open at www.msca.org/salesinstitute/basecamp. Class size is limited, so sign-up today. Contact Barbara Dolim at bdolim@mcaa.org with any questions.
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Armistead Mechanical Contributes to MCERF
 The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) recently received $5,000 contribution from Armistead Mechanical, Inc. (Waldwick, NJ), raising its total to $51,000. The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the support which helps the Foundation continue its education and research programs that help our industry grow and thrive. Find out more about MCERF and how you can help by visiting www.mcerf.org or contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@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 © 2015 MCAA
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