Heat and Frost Insulators News and Events

Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA)

CBTU Commends Federal Government’s Commitment to Workers Health and Safety
- Banning Asbestos important step forward to protecting Canadians and reducing workplace death and disease -


January 3, 2019– Canada’s Building Trades Unions are pleased with the Federal Government’s steps to close out 2018 with a ban on the use of asbestos and products containing asbestos. Canada now joins 55 other countries that have banned the use of asbestos.

“The Federal Government’s announcement to ban asbestos reflects their commitment to the health and safety of the Canadian workforce, and shows they have delivered on another one of their commitments since coming to office,” said Robert Blakely, Canadian Operating Office, Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “The CBTU has been lobbying on this issue for years, because workplace exposure to asbestos is one of the leading causes of workplace-related death within our affiliated unions. We now need governments at municipal, provincial and territorial levels to work with the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive strategy to account for and remove – safely – this substance from our existing buildings to lessen the impact on future generations of workers going forward.”

Mesothelioma, the cancer related to asbestos exposure, can take 20 to 40 years to develop and begin causing symptoms. The mortality rate is devastating, about 60 per cent of those affected die within a year of diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate is less than seven per cent.

Blakely went on to say, “While this announcement will reduce the chances for asbestos exposure in the next generation, we still have a lot of work to do around the legacy of asbestos which includes a public registry of buildings with asbestos, regulations around asbestos exposure, safe removal and disposal of asbestos from current buildings and compensation for victims.”

Les SMCC appuient les engagements du gouvernement fédéral au profit de la santé et de la sécurité des travailleuses et des travailleurs
- L’interdiction de l’amiante est une étape importante vers la protection des Canadiens et la réduction des maladies et des décès au travail -

A new resort planned for the Las Vegas Strip will create a nice jackpot of work for members of HFIAW Local 135.

The Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund (IIIATF) gathered instructors from across the U.S. and Canada to conduct its annual Trainer Enhancement training program. The IIIATF holds the Trainer Enhancement program as a way to better instructors by improving their teaching techniques.

The HFIAW is a proud charter union of the Union Sportsman's Alliance (USA). 

We know many of our members enjoy the great outdoors, the below photo album catalogs all of the images that have been sent to the IAHFIAW to share their love of the outdoors and have a chance to be published in the quarterly edition of The Insulators Journal.  

The pictures in the below album have been updated to reflect the most recent Winter edition submissions. 

The HFIAW was well represented at the 2018 North America’s Building Trade Unions (NABTU) Women Build Nations Conference. Held in Seattle in mid-October, more than 100 members of the HFIAW attended the conference.

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2018

USA Sponsors Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

First Shot Mentored Deer Hunt
Cambridge, Maryland — Twenty-three aspiring hunters gathered to learn how to pursue big game and provide food for themselves and their families at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Oct. 26-27 during the refuge's inaugural First Shots deer hunt.

The hunt was sponsored by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), Maryland Department of Natural Resources and National Wild Turkey Federation. More than 60 applications were received for the 23 available opportunities to be mentored by an experienced hunter and learn hunting basics including scouting, stand placement, biology and field care. The individuals selected were all new adult hunters who did not have a support network to help them develop a new lifelong passion.

Applicants were also eager to harvest their first deer, and at press time the apprentice hunters had harvested a total of 17 deer, with additional hunting opportunities set for later in the week.

In September of 2017, the USA partnered with the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to conduct a sika and white-tailed deer population survey using infrared imaging technology. The long-term goal was to provide necessary population data to the refuge—allowing for more opportunities for sustainable deer hunting.

USA put out a call to local members asking them to consider volunteering as a mentor. International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 24 Training Coordinator Brian Cavey wasted no time applying to be a mentor.

“I was honored and privileged to take part in Maryland’s Mentored Deer Hunting Program,” said Cavey. “What a way to introduce new hunters to the wonderful world of the outdoors and hunting.”

During the week of November 12, the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and the Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund will celebrate the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week, which is a week dedicated to show appreciation and bring awareness to apprenticeship programs.

Members of HFIAW Local 86 have been working at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Gallatin Combustion Turbine Plant since October 2017. The plant, which houses four GE and four Westinghouse units that have a combined generation capacity of 600 megawatts, is located adjacent to the Gallatin Fossil Plant in Gallatin, Tenn.