Six days before the end of Procore’s Hard Hat Hero contest, Randall Krocka, Sheet Metal Occupational Health Trust (SMOHIT) administrator, gave the green light to throw Chris Caricato’s hat into the ring. Although public online voting had been going on for weeks, and the leader was hundreds of votes ahead, it was worth a shot. Caricato, the training coordinator from Local 206 in San Diego, was chosen by SMOHIT due to more than 26 years as a member of SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (formerly the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association) as well as his “unyielding value” he puts on safety training, Krocka said.
Through social media, as well as e-blasts from administrators, which garnered support from fellow SMART members, Caricato finished at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4 with 548 votes, which won him the contest.
On Sept. 30, Caricato and his daughter, Jenna, arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina to watch the Bank of America ROVAL 400, the first road-course playoff race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, sponsored by Procore at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Before the race, the father-daughter duo started the day with breakfast and a facility tour at Levine Family Racing’s shop, where they also met drivers Regan Smith and Casey Kahne, who signed a door panel and presented it to Caricato.
At the track, the two watched the race from the pit, where they were given headsets, so they could listen to the interaction between the crew chief and driver. Caricato’s name also was printed on Kahne’s No. 95 car with #HardHatHero above it.
“It was my honor to represent SMART in Charlotte,” Caricato said. “It was an amazing experience my daughter and I will always remember.”
To read more about Chris Caricato’s experience, visit the Procore blog here: https://blog.procore.com/a-victory-lap-for-procores-2018-hard-hat-hero-winner/.
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) was founded in 1986 to address the impact of decades-long asbestos exposure on those working in the sheet metal industry. To date, more than 55,000 sheet metal workers have been screened as part of its ongoing Asbestos Screening Program.
SMOHIT has since expanded its mission to operate on four separate but related tracks: monitoring and documenting the health of sheet metal workers as it relates to workplace exposures and hazards; providing safety information and training related to best safety practices on and off the job; acting as an aggressive advocate for the health and safety of its members with government and through likeminded allied organizations; and providing diet and exercise information to address the health and wellness of its members.
SMOHIT has adjusted its methods and messages to reflect feedback from local unions and the industry, and to address new safety challenges as they arise. The organization works directly with the International Training Institute (ITI) to provide training programs for the unionized sheet metal industry.
For more information on SMOHIT, visit smohit.org or call 703-739-7130.
