Director's Message May-June 2018

Welcome to our very first PCT issue devoted to safety in our industry.

If you recall, for 2018, we completely revamped our Editorial Calendar in our commitment to produce more engaging content that is helpful to our industry. Nothing can top that list more than highlighting the importance of safety for all who call this industry their own. Over the years, I’m happy to have seen our industry, along with the manufacturing sector at-large, increase their focus on generating strong safety cultures and safer working conditions for their employees. Some of that may be due to stricter regulations, stiffer penalties for non-compliance, and the risk of litigation, but much is due to a heightened recognition that we need to protect our most important capital investment: our workers. While the powder coating process is environmentally friendly, and generally a safe and clean process, it is still a manufacturing process that requires attention to safety on several fronts. From using proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure to cleaning chemicals and powder particulates, to ensuring good housekeeping and maintenance habits to minimize electrical or explosion hazards, the need for a strong commitment to safety cannot be overemphasized.

Believe it or not, slips and falls make up the majority of accidents in the industrial workplace. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips and falls account for:

• • 15% of all accidental deaths per year.
  • About 25% of all reported injury claims per year.
  • Over 95 million lost work days per year
    
    

With all that in mind, we hope that you find this issue to be one, in particular, that will stay on your shelf for future reference.

Just a few weeks ago, we concluded Powder Coating 2018. If you weren’t able to attend our recent conference in Indianapolis, be sure to read the wrap-up article on page 24. We went about our programming for the event a bit differently this year. It turned out to be a good move as the evaluations reflected even higher scores and more positive comments than in years past. Attendance was up also. We are already discussing some new and different ideas for engagement at next year’s event. In fact, we’ve just signed the contract to hold Powder Coating 2019, April 1-4 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more information as we continue to finalize details for the event. It will be a great location for our conference at that time of year and I hope to see you there. It might even work out where you can plan an extended stay to include some time with your family to enjoy all that Orlando has to offer!

As I write today, we are working hard to bring together the details for our 2018 Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 25-28. Please put it on your calendar and plan to join us at the new Westin in Sarasota, FL. As in the past several years, this event is co-located with the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI). Registration is open on our website. It is always a very informative and fun event.

We look forward to seeing you there.
Stay safe,

Trena Benson, Executive Director
859-525-9988
trena@powdercoating.org