The Sheet Metal Occupation Health Institute Trust Inc. (SMOHIT), the safety arm of the unionized sheet metal industry, recently announced the winners of its annual Safety Champions Awards, which were presented to recipients in Washington, D.C., at the annual Safety Champions Conference this summer.
Providing resources to keep workers mentally and physically safe on the job site and at home is at the core of SMOHIT’s duties to members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers. Recognizing individuals and companies that hold safety in as high a regard is what the Safety Champions Awards is all about.
The 2023 honorees included Kurt Christiansen, Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) instructor for SMART Local 18 and Christiansen Heating and Sheet Metal in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Maleeta Dailey, safety director, CMC Sheet Metal in Capitol Heights, Maryland; Richard DaCosta, certified joint health and safety representative and certificate of recognition (COR) auditor, Nortex Roofing in Toronto, Ontario; Superior Duct Fabrication, Pomona California; and William Kessler, safety director/instructor for R.F. Knox Company and SMART Local 85’s Georgia Sheet Metal training center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jointly sponsored by SMART and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), SMOHIT was founded in 1986 to address the impact of decades-long asbestos exposure on those working in the sheet metal industry.
Today, SMOHIT’s mission has broadened to include the total health of its members. By providing industry-leading physical, mental and emotional health and safety solutions, SMOHIT strives to minimize occupational illnesses, address mental health and substance use disorder in the industry, prevent injuries among sheet metal craftspeople and provide diet, exercise and other lifestyle information to address the health and wellness of union members and contractors.
Click here to read more about the individuals and companies recognized with 2023 Safety Champions Awards. For more information on SMOHIT, visit smohit.org or call 703-739-7130.