GENERAL SHEET METAL WORKS INC. Company overcomes 2020 challenges with improved safety protocols

In September 2020, as the world faced the challenges of COVID-19, wildfires and hazardous air quality from the smoke presented a new level of safety concerns. Safety Manager Raymon Brison was charged with figuring out how to run the fabrication shop at General Sheet Metal Works Inc. safely. The company quickly implemented a Respiratory Protection Program and had a stock of 3M 6500 series half-face respirators stored away. The leadership team reviewed all safety options, including closing outside air dampers, adding air cleaning HEPA portable units and using respirators. “Working our plan and planning our work as a team was the key to ensuring everyone’s safety,” Brison said. “Special thanks to Respexam for getting all the medical evaluations complete in record time to allow the next step of fit-testing on over 30 employees. That was a critical step in our Respiratory Protection Program that allowed us to safely operate, keeping our clients satisfied.” General Sheet Metal Works’ safety culture is imbedded from the first day of employment and starts with “See Something Say Something.” It gauges its safety culture through feedback from anonymous employee surveys.