Jeff Bradley, a first-generation sheet metal worker from Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 in St. Louis, has joined the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) as a field representative. In this role, Bradley works closely with SMOHIT Administrator Aldo Zambetti, visiting union locals and educating members about all the…
SMOHIT expands Helpline for wider coverage, adding second mental health professional
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, or SMOHIT, Helpline, available 24 hours a day at 877-884-6227 to members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and their immediate families, was put in place long before the pandemic disrupted the world. The idea emerged…
The truth about 10-minute workouts
The latest trends in fitness are leaning toward the shorter-is-better philosophy — but do dramatically shortened workouts really get the job done? No one can deny the days of spending hours running, biking or doing any other number of slow, cardio-based exercise sessions are long gone. We simply don’t have…
Don’t forget to stretch
Stretching is important in the maintenance of muscles’ elasticity and length. When a muscle shortens, the ability to perform a task involving that muscle decreases, which can then increase the risk of injury. This is especially noticeable in the lower back region. Tightness of the upper back, lower back, hamstrings…
Goals met during Fall Steps Challenge
SMART members took 21,717,860 steps toward better health during the 2022 Fall Steps Challenge, held from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31. Top walkers included Giselle Sanchez, from Local 49 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who reached the 400,000-step goal, while Dylan Jones, from Local 88 in Las Vegas, topped the 250,000-step…
A Conversation about Safety
Angie Simon is joined by Aldo Zambetti, Administrator of Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT), and Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS, Director of Safety at SMACNA. In this episode, they talk about safety in the workplace and how to better promote mental health awareness.
SMOHIT, SMART recognized as mental health visionaries
At the first Construction Working Minds Summit, held earlier this year in Denver, Colorado, SMOHIT and SMART were jointly honored with the Mental Health Visionary award. The summit was hosted by the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, United Suicide Survivors International and Johnson Depression Center, and it brought together…
SMOHIT-SMART MAP relaunches in-person, localized peer trainings
SMOHIT-SMART MAP, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers’ Member Assistance Program, administered by the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT), has reignited peer in-person training after COVID-19 put a pause on all in-person events. The peer training events, unlike the three-day SMART MAP general awareness training, are…
You don’t have to fix it — you just have to be there
It’s just past dusk, and you’re driving home from a long day. On the side of the road, you see a car pulled over, hazard lights blinking. As you pass, you see a SMART sticker on the car’s windshield — it belongs to a union brother or sister. You pull…
Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 integrates suicide prevention into COMET training
At Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the past few years have provided organizers with insight into what members go through in terms of mental health struggles, substance abuse or family pressures. Director of Organizing Hallie Jennerman and Statewide Organizer Craig Holzem have taken that knowledge and made some changes…
Helpline for unionized sheet metal workers marks fifth year, growth
Union to hire second dedicated counselor to field 24/7 calls from union members In 2017, as awareness of mental health and substance use disorder struggles increased, the unionized sheet metal industry launched its Helpline, operated around the clock by a licensed counselor and available to dependent families and members of…
Spread the word — helplines work
The SMOHIT Helpline (877-884-6227) launched in 2017 amidst natural disasters, mass shootings and a rise in awareness about the mental health struggles of members of SMART. Operated by a licensed therapist, the Helpline has been continued every year since by the trustees to encourage conversation and help members and their families…
SMOHIT Safety Committee works behind the scenes for all-around safety improvement
As one of his first actions as program director in 2021, Aldo Zambetti created the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Committee, a hand-picked group of longtime safety experts from around the country who meet in person twice a year to discuss specific safety needs of instructors and trainers. The…
Update to NIOSH Fraud and Fraudulent Statements Policy
NIOSH updated the fraud and fraudulent statements information to include the addition of R95 as a new certification mark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Currently, the marks N95, N99, N100, P95, P100, R95, the NIOSH stylized logo with and without text, and the term “NIOSH Approved”…
PPE Recall
On June 9, 2022, 3M Fall Protection announced a stop use/recall of specific 3M™ DBI-SALA® ShockWave™2 Arc Flash Shock Absorbing Lanyards. 3M determined that, for a limited number of devices, a potential manufacturing issue could result in the lanyard not performing properly in the event of a fall, which could…
Spring Steps Challenge Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our Spring Steps Challenge, which ended on May 31, 2022! Thank you for committing to your health and team spirit during the Steps Challenge. We hope you plan to keep stepping on through the summer! Mark your calendars for our Fall Steps Challenge, which will…
Aldo Zambetti steps into new role as SMOHIT administrator
It was only last year Aldo Zambetti joined the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) as its program director, and as of Jan. 1, he moved into the role of administrator. His new position will entail working not just with programs in development, but also with all the programs…
SMOHIT honors those who promote safety culture
A time-honored tradition at the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Champions Conference is to honor those in the industry who have fostered in practice a true safety culture. The Safety Champions Awards accepts nominations throughout the year and awards those who have taken initiative in the name…
Safety Champions Conference goes virtual for second year
For the second year, out of an abundance of caution, the sixth annual Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Champions Conference was held virtually April 14 and 15 for contractors, training directors and instructors, business managers and agents, and executives from labor and management across the country. Led…
Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 delivers suicide prevention training
Everyone has been touched by suicide in some way — whether it’s news of a celebrity who seemingly had experienced no outward problems or a close friend who was struggling with depression or addiction. The numbers are staggering. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States…
Safeguarding Women’s Health in the Trades
As the need increases for sheet metal workers, so too has the drive to recruit more women into the trade, and the 21st century workforce looks more diverse than ever before. Health and safety concerns in construction and the trades affect both women and men, but some problems can have…
Mindfulness and Meditation — Just a Click Away?
As stress and anxiety take a toll on everyone, and the buzz of smartphones and scheduling apps keeps people in all professions on their toes, many have turned to mindfulness and meditation to help gain a sense of calm in their lives. Far from meditation’s past reputation as a “hippie”…
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Anyone who has kids knows how important sleep — and a bedtime — can be and the difference it can make in the behavior, personality and cognitive abilities of a child the next day. Yet when we become adults, why is sleep the first thing sacrificed when jobs and family…
Spread the Word — Helplines Work
The SMOHIT Helpline (877-884-6227) launched in 2017 amidst natural disasters, mass shootings and a rise in awareness about the mental health struggles of SMART members. Operated by a licensed therapist, the SMOHIT Helpline has been continued every year since by the trustees to encourage conversation and help members get through…
New counselor joins SMOHIT’s Helpline
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Helpline has a new counselor ready to take calls from members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and their families. Jeremy Holburn holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health licensure and is a licensed…
Job Stress Can Take a Toll
Recognize your limits, so you can bend and not break Job stress is defined as the physical and emotional harm that occurs when the demands of the work do not match the worker’s abilities or the available resources. Just as you would not overload a piece of equipment past the…
Local 9 SMART MAP program works to eradicate stigma around mental health
Andy Gilliland, training coordinator at Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, knows he can’t save them all. But it doesn’t stop him from trying. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), construction workers die by suicide four times more often than the general population,…
Working Outdoors in Warm Climates
Hot summer months pose special hazards for outdoor workers who must protect themselves against heat, sun exposure, and other hazards. Employers and employees should know the potential hazards in their workplaces and how to manage them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a pamphlet, Heat Illness Prevention…
Low-Dose CT Lung Screening
How could asbestos-exposed workers benefit from a low-dose CT lung screening? Low-dose CT lung screening in asbestos-exposed workers is effective in detecting asymptomatic lung cancer. Providing a CT scan for asbestos-exposed workers could reduce mortality and allow early detection and treatment of any and all lung abnormalities. Low-dose lung screening…
Resources for Growth and Healing
The secret to post-traumatic growth and resilience lies in people’s ability to not only utilize their own natural abilities for coping and healing but to know how and when to be willing to learn new skills to repair and renew. Here’s a list of some favorite resources that people can…
Grief and Trauma in the Wake of Natural Disasters
Grief, defined: the emotional impact of loss. Trauma, defined: harm caused by events that are outside normal, everyday occurrences. Humans are equipped to respond to day-to-day ups and downs and the occasional crisis in our lives. Our biology has developed systems that are activated to respond to stress by alerting…
Financial Stress: It’s More Than 1+1
Financial literacy is defined as the ability to manage one’s financial resources effectively for lifetime financial security. Money, or financial security, represents different things to different people. Some see it as a means to an end. Others, as the one and only end, the be-all-and-end-all in life. Some are literate…
What Help Is Available at 877-884-6227
By now you have seen the stickers that are showing up on flyers and hardhats, as well as mention of the Helpline in SMOHIT tweets and Facebook posts. I know because I am getting calls for assistance as well as some asking what exactly a person can call about. What…
Faith-Based Resources
For those members who are looking for help in these troubling times, SMOHIT offers SMART MAP Peer Counseling and Helpline access, as well as links to other services such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is a reminder that you are not alone. If you are looking for something…
St. Louis sheet metal worker, OSHA instructor joins SMOHIT as field representative
Jeff Bradley, a first-generation sheet metal worker from Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 in St. Louis, has joined the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) as a field representative. In this role, Bradley works closely with SMOHIT Administrator Aldo Zambetti, visiting union locals and educating members about all the…
Categories News and Events
SMOHIT expands Helpline for wider coverage, adding second mental health professional
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, or SMOHIT, Helpline, available 24 hours a day at 877-884-6227 to members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and their immediate families, was put in place long before the pandemic disrupted the world. The idea emerged…
The truth about 10-minute workouts
The latest trends in fitness are leaning toward the shorter-is-better philosophy — but do dramatically shortened workouts really get the job done? No one can deny the days of spending hours running, biking or doing any other number of slow, cardio-based exercise sessions are long gone. We simply don’t have…
Don’t forget to stretch
Stretching is important in the maintenance of muscles’ elasticity and length. When a muscle shortens, the ability to perform a task involving that muscle decreases, which can then increase the risk of injury. This is especially noticeable in the lower back region. Tightness of the upper back, lower back, hamstrings…
Categories News and Events
Goals met during Fall Steps Challenge
SMART members took 21,717,860 steps toward better health during the 2022 Fall Steps Challenge, held from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31. Top walkers included Giselle Sanchez, from Local 49 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who reached the 400,000-step goal, while Dylan Jones, from Local 88 in Las Vegas, topped the 250,000-step…
Categories News and Events
A Conversation about Safety
Angie Simon is joined by Aldo Zambetti, Administrator of Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT), and Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS, Director of Safety at SMACNA. In this episode, they talk about safety in the workplace and how to better promote mental health awareness.
SMOHIT, SMART recognized as mental health visionaries
At the first Construction Working Minds Summit, held earlier this year in Denver, Colorado, SMOHIT and SMART were jointly honored with the Mental Health Visionary award. The summit was hosted by the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, United Suicide Survivors International and Johnson Depression Center, and it brought together…
SMOHIT-SMART MAP relaunches in-person, localized peer trainings
SMOHIT-SMART MAP, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers’ Member Assistance Program, administered by the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT), has reignited peer in-person training after COVID-19 put a pause on all in-person events. The peer training events, unlike the three-day SMART MAP general awareness training, are…
You don’t have to fix it — you just have to be there
It’s just past dusk, and you’re driving home from a long day. On the side of the road, you see a car pulled over, hazard lights blinking. As you pass, you see a SMART sticker on the car’s windshield — it belongs to a union brother or sister. You pull…
Categories News and Events
Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 integrates suicide prevention into COMET training
At Sheet Metal Workers Local 18 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the past few years have provided organizers with insight into what members go through in terms of mental health struggles, substance abuse or family pressures. Director of Organizing Hallie Jennerman and Statewide Organizer Craig Holzem have taken that knowledge and made some changes…
Categories News and Events
Helpline for unionized sheet metal workers marks fifth year, growth
Union to hire second dedicated counselor to field 24/7 calls from union members In 2017, as awareness of mental health and substance use disorder struggles increased, the unionized sheet metal industry launched its Helpline, operated around the clock by a licensed counselor and available to dependent families and members of…
Categories News and Events
Spread the word — helplines work
The SMOHIT Helpline (877-884-6227) launched in 2017 amidst natural disasters, mass shootings and a rise in awareness about the mental health struggles of members of SMART. Operated by a licensed therapist, the Helpline has been continued every year since by the trustees to encourage conversation and help members and their families…
Categories News and Events
SMOHIT Safety Committee works behind the scenes for all-around safety improvement
As one of his first actions as program director in 2021, Aldo Zambetti created the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Committee, a hand-picked group of longtime safety experts from around the country who meet in person twice a year to discuss specific safety needs of instructors and trainers. The…
Categories News and Events
Update to NIOSH Fraud and Fraudulent Statements Policy
NIOSH updated the fraud and fraudulent statements information to include the addition of R95 as a new certification mark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Currently, the marks N95, N99, N100, P95, P100, R95, the NIOSH stylized logo with and without text, and the term “NIOSH Approved”…
Categories News and Events
PPE Recall
On June 9, 2022, 3M Fall Protection announced a stop use/recall of specific 3M™ DBI-SALA® ShockWave™2 Arc Flash Shock Absorbing Lanyards. 3M determined that, for a limited number of devices, a potential manufacturing issue could result in the lanyard not performing properly in the event of a fall, which could…
Spring Steps Challenge Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our Spring Steps Challenge, which ended on May 31, 2022! Thank you for committing to your health and team spirit during the Steps Challenge. We hope you plan to keep stepping on through the summer! Mark your calendars for our Fall Steps Challenge, which will…
Categories News and Events
Aldo Zambetti steps into new role as SMOHIT administrator
It was only last year Aldo Zambetti joined the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) as its program director, and as of Jan. 1, he moved into the role of administrator. His new position will entail working not just with programs in development, but also with all the programs…
Categories News and Events
SMOHIT honors those who promote safety culture
A time-honored tradition at the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Champions Conference is to honor those in the industry who have fostered in practice a true safety culture. The Safety Champions Awards accepts nominations throughout the year and awards those who have taken initiative in the name…
Safety Champions Conference goes virtual for second year
For the second year, out of an abundance of caution, the sixth annual Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Safety Champions Conference was held virtually April 14 and 15 for contractors, training directors and instructors, business managers and agents, and executives from labor and management across the country. Led…
Categories News and Events
Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 delivers suicide prevention training
Everyone has been touched by suicide in some way — whether it’s news of a celebrity who seemingly had experienced no outward problems or a close friend who was struggling with depression or addiction. The numbers are staggering. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States…
Safeguarding Women’s Health in the Trades
As the need increases for sheet metal workers, so too has the drive to recruit more women into the trade, and the 21st century workforce looks more diverse than ever before. Health and safety concerns in construction and the trades affect both women and men, but some problems can have…
Mindfulness and Meditation — Just a Click Away?
As stress and anxiety take a toll on everyone, and the buzz of smartphones and scheduling apps keeps people in all professions on their toes, many have turned to mindfulness and meditation to help gain a sense of calm in their lives. Far from meditation’s past reputation as a “hippie”…
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Anyone who has kids knows how important sleep — and a bedtime — can be and the difference it can make in the behavior, personality and cognitive abilities of a child the next day. Yet when we become adults, why is sleep the first thing sacrificed when jobs and family…
Spread the Word — Helplines Work
The SMOHIT Helpline (877-884-6227) launched in 2017 amidst natural disasters, mass shootings and a rise in awareness about the mental health struggles of SMART members. Operated by a licensed therapist, the SMOHIT Helpline has been continued every year since by the trustees to encourage conversation and help members get through…
New counselor joins SMOHIT’s Helpline
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Helpline has a new counselor ready to take calls from members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers and their families. Jeremy Holburn holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health licensure and is a licensed…
Job Stress Can Take a Toll
Recognize your limits, so you can bend and not break Job stress is defined as the physical and emotional harm that occurs when the demands of the work do not match the worker’s abilities or the available resources. Just as you would not overload a piece of equipment past the…
Local 9 SMART MAP program works to eradicate stigma around mental health
Andy Gilliland, training coordinator at Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, knows he can’t save them all. But it doesn’t stop him from trying. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), construction workers die by suicide four times more often than the general population,…
Working Outdoors in Warm Climates
Hot summer months pose special hazards for outdoor workers who must protect themselves against heat, sun exposure, and other hazards. Employers and employees should know the potential hazards in their workplaces and how to manage them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a pamphlet, Heat Illness Prevention…
Low-Dose CT Lung Screening
How could asbestos-exposed workers benefit from a low-dose CT lung screening? Low-dose CT lung screening in asbestos-exposed workers is effective in detecting asymptomatic lung cancer. Providing a CT scan for asbestos-exposed workers could reduce mortality and allow early detection and treatment of any and all lung abnormalities. Low-dose lung screening…
Resources for Growth and Healing
The secret to post-traumatic growth and resilience lies in people’s ability to not only utilize their own natural abilities for coping and healing but to know how and when to be willing to learn new skills to repair and renew. Here’s a list of some favorite resources that people can…
Grief and Trauma in the Wake of Natural Disasters
Grief, defined: the emotional impact of loss. Trauma, defined: harm caused by events that are outside normal, everyday occurrences. Humans are equipped to respond to day-to-day ups and downs and the occasional crisis in our lives. Our biology has developed systems that are activated to respond to stress by alerting…
Financial Stress: It’s More Than 1+1
Financial literacy is defined as the ability to manage one’s financial resources effectively for lifetime financial security. Money, or financial security, represents different things to different people. Some see it as a means to an end. Others, as the one and only end, the be-all-and-end-all in life. Some are literate…
What Help Is Available at 877-884-6227
By now you have seen the stickers that are showing up on flyers and hardhats, as well as mention of the Helpline in SMOHIT tweets and Facebook posts. I know because I am getting calls for assistance as well as some asking what exactly a person can call about. What…
Faith-Based Resources
For those members who are looking for help in these troubling times, SMOHIT offers SMART MAP Peer Counseling and Helpline access, as well as links to other services such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is a reminder that you are not alone. If you are looking for something…