Recent News

Building partnerships, attracting talented individuals and producing quality work remain essential; however, emerging leaders are now facing an array of new challenges.

On September 30, 2023, California Senate Bill 553 was signed into law and California Labor Code section 6401.9 and was effective and enforceable on July 1, 2024.

Congratulations to the 19 Bay Area SMACNA member companies that received Safety Awards during the CAL SMACNA Convention! Safety is incredibly important in our industry, and we’re proud of these companies for making it a top priority.

According to a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal work injuries in the construction and extraction industry increased 11 percent, from 12.3 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees in 2021 to 13 in 2022.

During this half-day, in-person training session, attendees will learn critical lifesaving skills.

Expand your professional and personal network during CAL SMACNA’s 58th Annual Convention, set for April 3-6, 2024. Experience the timeless craftsman charm of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the venue for this year’s event.

The CAL SMACNA Safety Seminar was held in the new Bay Area SMACNA training room on September 21, and we were excited to have more than 20 of our local contractors participate.

Summer brought a punishing heat wave to many parts of the United States, California included. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 people die each year from heat-related illness — and construction workers in particular are exposed to risk.

Recently the Labor and Management Trustees of the Sheet Metal Workers Pension Plan of Northern California (the Plan) updated the guidelines for retired Local 104 District 1 pensioners to apply for Return to Work at signatory contractors without having their benefits suspended or delayed.

The group utilized the portable training module built to demonstrate how a vestibule and stairwell should protect building occupants in the event of an emergency.

Recently the Labor and Management Trustees of the Sheet Metal Workers Pension Plan of Northern California (the Plan) updated the guidelines for retired Local 104 District 1 pensioners to apply for Return to Work at signatory contractors without having their benefits suspended or delayed.

More than a great networking and social event, the annual Scholarship Trust Golf Tournament is a worthy fundraiser to help students meet the demands of a higher education through tuition and book scholarships.

From drones and 3D printing to virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), the future of construction is already here. Now, Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and the Bay Industry Training Fund are excited to introduce today’s cutting-edge technology to the training curriculum — Dusty, an autonomous robot designed for full-scale floor layout.

The key to developing the next generation of sheet metal workers is on-the-job training, a targeted curriculum and consistent feedback on performance. Each contractor’s obligation and role in providing authentic evaluations on apprentice performance is both necessary to the apprentice’s career growth and is required by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards. In addition, apprentices who receive high marks may qualify for the Training Coordinator’s List, enabling them to customize their 5th year class selection.

Every summer, contractors hire interns to recruit and engage top talent for the future, fill in for busy peak seasons and evaluate candidates for their fit and potential within their organization. It’s exciting to see how many interns have grown through the ranks of their respective companies and made a difference in our industry.

All SMACNA members are encouraged to complete the online 2023 SMACNA Safety Excellence Award Program survey

Provided by Safety Training Seminars Our industry requires a high level of safety in the workplace, and all workers and leaders must be prepared for an emergency.

Sexual harassment can happen on the jobsite, in the office, at a trade show, through social media … and it’s more than just unwanted physical contact.

The construction industry is tough. Rugged. Fast-paced. Physically demanding. From architects and mechanical engineers to project managers, site superintendents and journeyworkers — it takes a certain type of person to be able to handle everything this industry throws at them.

The Fire Life Safety demonstration on April 13 at the Local 104 Main Office in Livermore was well attended. More than 40 participants, including contractors, Local 104 TAB employees and other industry representatives enjoyed the presentation followed by a BBQ lunch hosted by Bay Area SMACNA.

Congratulations to the Bay Area SMACNA winners of several annual awards that were recognized at CAL SMACNA’s 56th Annual Convention in Kauai.

Bigge Crane & Rigging has been instrumental in the American construction scene since it was founded in 1916.

To ensure projects can obtain a certificate of occupancy, new buildings and tenant improvement projects are built in accordance with local code requirements, and are tested, adjusted and balanced to meet required airflows, pressurization differentials and door force opening requirements.

Each year, CAL SMACNA is proud to recognize members with outstanding safety records.

This course gives our members the tools to be prepared for an emergency in any type of setting.

Determining the best way to keep folks healthy and minimize risks has proven challenging, while changing CDC and OSHA guidelines have both helped and, other times, caused confusion.

With 200+ contractors in District 1, the Bay Area SMACNA team relies on the leadership and volunteering spirit of its members to assist in guiding and growing the organization to meet current and future industry needs.

Bay Area SMACNA is proud to continue partnering with ClickSafety to offer online safety training to member firms.

When school is in session, that’s where most children spend a majority of their day. But the problem is that many schools don’t have the proper ventilation to keep unhealthy pollutants out of their indoor air, reducing the cognitive ability for students to be successful learners.

According to updated guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, contractors and other employers throughout the country are free to make the COVID-19 vaccination a job requirement.

Congratulations to the following companies that qualified for CAL SMACNA’s Safety Awards with their excellent safety records!

From the start of the pandemic in March 2020, it was clear SMW Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Trust Fund (JATC Training Trust Fund) had some decisions to make about safely continuing the apprenticeship training program.

During the past year, it’s likely that some fleets have been fully or partially out of commission due to decreased workload or other pandemic-related issues.

On March 19, 2021, Governor Newsom signed the Retroactive COVID Paid Sick Leave law. This piece of legislation, also known as AB 94 & SB 95, extends and expands employer requirements to provide supplemental paid sick leave to employees impacted by COVID-19.

Currently, more than 400 pre-apprentices provide much needed support and entry-level skills to contractors.

California law now requires California employers with five or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees, and one hour of sexual harassment prevention training to all nonsupervisory employees by January 1, 2021.

Bay Area SMACNA will reimburse member firms that host their own CPR and Basic First-Aid Training and Certification. SMWIA Local 104 members, managers, and office personnel who attend the training will receive each!

With the onset of COVID-19 and juggling to restructure our workplaces, homes, schools, etc., we all learned quickly what we needed to do to reduce the risk of becoming infected and prevent the spread if we contracted the virus.

In addition to working remotely and disrupting our normal routines, the pandemic has also sidetracked us from heading to the gym. That’s why our Women In Construction group began hosting #WICFit Challenges to really motivate members to tap into more opportunities to network and stay fit.

Did you know that one pint of blood can save up to three lives? What an admirable way to spend 10 minutes of your day!

On September 25, Bay Area SMACNA hosted the Pandemics and Productivity: Quantifying the Impact webinar for chapter members. Information was shared from the New Horizons study that quantifies MEP contractors’ loss in risk mitigation and productivity.

For 20 years, Bay Area SMACNA has introduced local students to the variety of career opportunities available within the sheet metal industry through our successful Intern Program.

For the past several years, the Sheet Metal Workers 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Fund Building Committee has searched for an ideal facility to replace the aging San Leandro JATC.