NEII Insider 2022: Edition 8

NEII's PPE Challenge and Other DEI Work

This month, NEII initiated our inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE) challenge on our social media channels. The campaign promotes agreement by NEII’s members to provide size and gender inclusive PPE and uniform options that will comfortably fit every employee. We are currently asking companies and organizations who also provide inclusive PPE options to retweet or share our social media posts to indicate their support of equity and inclusion in their workplaces.

As we move into the fall, the PPE Challenge will continue to play a role in NEII’s messaging as a partner in Construction Inclusion Week, which will be held October 18-21, 2022.

Construction Inclusion Week was founded by a group of general contractors in 2021 to harness the collective power of the construction industry to build awareness regarding the need to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. NEII will have several exciting activities in place for Construction Inclusion Week, not to mention serving as a source for industry resources at NEII.org.

If you are interested in getting involved as well, take a look at the information at constructioninclusionweek.com and make your own plan to participate in this important campaign. And follow NEII on Twitter and LinkedIn today!

Officials in California Remind Employers to Protect Workers from Unhealthy Air

California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) circulated a news release in August to remind employers in the state to follow the Protection from Wildfire Smoke standard, which requires employers to take steps to protect workers from unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke.

The Protection from Wildfire Smoke standard applies to most worksite in the state where the air cannot be filtered and the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 is 151 or more due to wildfire smoke. When wildfire smoke might affect a worksite, employers must monitor the AQI before and throughout the work shift.

To help employers prepare and assist their workers, Cal/OSHA has created an informational webpage with all the requirements at wildfiresmokecalifornia.org and humodelincendios.org. Employers can track the AQI using their own instruments to measure or use websites like the US EPA’s Air Now and local air quality management district websites like the California Air Resources Board.

If the air is unhealthy due to wildfire smoke, employers must provide proper respiratory protection like N95 respirators for voluntary use if work cannot be moved to a location where the air is not harmful. If operations cannot be moved and there is no access to respiratory protection, operations may need to be halted until the outdoor air quality improves. This includes outdoor worksites and indoor locations where the air is not filtered or doors are kept open such as warehouses, packing, manufacturing, distribution facilities and more.

To learn more about the hazards of breathing wildfire smoke, and the steps employers must take to protect employees, read the full news release here.

Elevating Field Personnel Safety with Checklists

As with other trades, working in the elevator industry poses certain risks, which is why it is important to follow all industry safety standards, as well as any additional requirements, processes or procedures required by your employer. Health and safety checklists are a helpful tool for maintaining a safe jobsite for field personnel.

Checklists help organize the elements of a job or project, record a hazard analysis, and organize notes. The paper or digital trail helps field technicians remember and record what has been completed on a jobsite and allows employees to reflect on their routine daily tasks. Technicians are encouraged to reflect on each workday and to think critically about the project – time and attention that might help identify hazards.

If you have a checklist or program that your company uses that you’d like NEII to share with our readers, please reach out to Nicole Van Velzen at nvanvelzen@neii.org.

If you or your organization are looking for a health and safety checklist or some insight into what might improve one you are already using, there are a plethora of options on the web, and you can check with your state department of labor’s resources. We are also aware that Fieldboss recently put some information together in a video that may be helpful. Learn more here.

Upcoming Recruitments

The elevator industry is hiring. Below are the upcoming recruitments for elevator constructor apprentices. Please share these opportunities as appropriate.

Currently, there are open recruitments in

Atlanta, GA until September 2
Charlotte, NC until September 2
Mobile, AL until September 6

Other recruitments in September

September 1, a recruitment opens in Houston, TX until September 29
September 6, a recruitment opens in Anchorage, AK until September 20
September 16, a recruitment opens in Boise, ID until October 16

For more information on the industry and training and recruitment opportunities, please visit neiep.org.

Code Development Update

ASME A17/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators: The 2022 edition is scheduled for publication in Q4 this year. There are still some administrative steps for the 2022 process, but all of the working committees are now focused on changes for the 2025 edition.

ICC International Building Code Series (I-Codes): Group B changes for 2024, which include proposals for the International Existing Building Code, International Residential Code, and structural requirements in the International Building Code are in process. Public Comment Hearings to review public comments will be held September 14-18 in Louisville, KY.

ICC A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities: The A117 committee is meeting virtually every two weeks to review proposed revisions for the next cycle. The goal is to complete the work in time for publication at the end of 2023.

NFPA 70 National Electric Code – Changes for the 2023 edition have been completed. Publication is expected in 2023.

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code – Second Draft meetings for the 2024 editions have been completed. Publication of the 2024 editions is expected in 2023.