Herb Woerpel was a senior editor with The ACHR NEWS. He is committed to delivering practical, insightful information in an accessible, engaging way. Herb joined BNP Media in 2011. He most recently served as editor-in-chief of Engineered Systems and was previously employed as managing editor of The ACHR NEWS. Before joining BNP Media, he worked as a reporter with the Advance Newspapers, a subsidiary of MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. He holds a bachelor’s degree in news editorial journalism from Central Michigan University and boasts 16-plus years of professional journalism experience.
HVAC contracting is a dangerous profession.
Technicians are threatened by electrical shock, burns, muscle strains, refrigerant gases, injuries from handling heavy equipment, and much more.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal injuries among specialty trade contractors involved in foundation, structure, or exterior work rose 27 percent to 231 in 2015, up from 182 in 2014.
When it comes to acquiring crafty quotes and insightful input, magazine editors sometimes have to get creative. Such was the case regarding the stories set to appear in next week’s issue (Dec. 18) of The NEWS. I was tasked with writing an article on safety practices for entry-level technicians. This seemed like a slam-dunk assignment. Most HVAC contractors strive to keep their employees safe, right?
Daikin is disrupting the HVACR industry. This notion was evidenced at the global manufacturer’s biennial Daikin Group Sales Meeting 2017 (DGSM) held Oct. 13-16 in San Antonio.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. — At some point, you’ve heard, or perhaps said, this phrase. — However, reinventing the wheel may be an ironic cliché, as it’s not clear when the wheel was actually invented. Internet citations suggest the wheel was first crafted in Slovenia more than 5,100 years ago.
In a world of ordinary mortals, more than 1,000 dedicated tradespeople descended upon Las Vegas from all over the globe to obtain the intellect, indomitable will, and super hero prowess necessary to grant them near invincibility in the HVACR, plumbing, and electrical trades.
Larry Taylor, whose career in the industry exceeds five decades, was honored as an inaugural Legend of HVACR Award winner during the 2017 Service World Expo, Sept. 7-8 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.