Safety will be the theme of several sessions being held at the 2023 Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Summer Conference, taking place June 12-15 in Vancouver, BC. Three different sessions will center around safety and education: 1) a presentation about the importance of creating a culture of safety in the workplace, 2) a panel on the latest in bird-friendly glass and related standards to protect wildlife and 3) a hands-on workshop focused on safely washing and cutting glass. Register now for the in-person experience or for virtual access to the FGIA Summer Conference. Early bird registration rates, the best pricing available, are available through May 15.

“Safety is the highest priority for our members,” said Florica Vlad, FGIA Meetings Manager. “In support of that, FGIA made it a focus of this event as a way to help our members get the knowledge they need to ensure their workplaces and communities are as safe as possible for all.”

Creating a Safety Culture

Scott Kessler, EHS Director (Lippert), will lead a session called “Engage Your Team to Create a Culture of Safety,” sponsored by the FGIA Fenestration Safety Committee. This session will help participants understand the importance of prioritizing safety training and finding ways to engage teams in this training and will cover:

• Management’s accountability to lead teams in consistency
• Improving equipment that provides a safer environment for teams
• Utilizing near-miss reports to identify hazards through incident reporting tools
• Highlighting the importance of investigating incidents with team member engagement
• Implementing corrective actions and following up with the team members

The Latest in Bird-friendly Glass

A panel discussion entitled “Bird-friendly Glazing, Designs and Standards,” sponsored by the FGIA FENBC Region, will be available to in-person participants only. Panelists will include Tara Brummet, Business Development Manager (Vitrum), Mark Jacobson, Market Manager – North America (Kuraray), Geoff Shellard, Senior Sales Representative (Guardian Glass) and Otto Ward, Senior Estimators, Business Development (Garibaldi Glass). The panel will provide an overview of what bird-friendly glass is, what is required by current codes and regulations and what is likely to be on the horizon. It will also address the new Canadian Bird Friendly Cities program, as well as what outside-the-box options are available as substitutes to standard glazing that will qualify as bird-friendly.

Safe Cutting and Washing of Glass

FGIA will be hosting a condensed version of its popular Insulating Glass (IG) Fabricators Workshop during the Summer Conference, offering two stations covering the first of seven portions from the full training – an introduction to glass cutting and washing. In this nearly 90-minute workshop, participants will learn to safely cut and wash glass using the industry’s best practices and proper tools. Participants will have the opportunity to perform various tests related to adhesion and total dissolved solids (TDS), as well as an evaluation of glass cutting wheel tools and angles. This workshop is available to in-person participants only.

Registration Options

For FGIA members who register for the conference before May 15, the early bird registration price is $918.75 (USD). Through May 25, FGIA members can register for the in-person event for $971.25. Regular member pricing after May 25 will be $1,023.75. Non-members can register for $1,680.

For virtual access, FGIA members can register a single individual for $367.50. Non-members can register for virtual access for one participant for $1,207.50. A company can register up to five participants for $918.75. Registration for more than five participants costs $1,837.50. Additionally, members of the FGIA FENBC Region are invited to exclusive in-person one-day access on June 14 to hear from industry experts providing valuable content throughout the day. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and an evening reception where regional members can expand their networking outreach.

All registration fees include a 5 percent GST tax. Those with questions about traveling and entry into Canada can review FGIA’s list of Frequently Asked Questions on the topic. Register for the 2023 FGIA Annual Conference now. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Florica Vlad.

For more information about FGIA and its activities, visit FGIAonline.org.

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