NEWSMAKERS
Industry
News
PDCA STANDs up to prevent construction suicide
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the construction
industry has the highest rate of suicide, as well as the highest number
of suicides across industries. PDCA has added its voice to combat
these statistics in order to help prevent construction suicide by
formally aligning itself with the Construction Industry Alliance for
Suicide Prevention (the Alliance).
In December, PDCA signed the pledge offered by the Alliance
to “STAND” up for suicide prevention; this means that throughout
2020 and beyond, PDCA will address suicide prevention as a health
and safety priority and encourage its members, stakeholders and
fellow industry groups to adopt these principles:
•• Safe: Create a safe culture where employees feel safe to ask
for help if they are having suicidal thoughts or if they are concerned
that their co-workers are at risk of suicide.
•• Training: Make suicide prevention training available to all
employees so that they can recognize the warning signs and be
equipped to help those at risk.
•• Awareness: Raise awareness through such organizational
activities as safety meetings, toolbox talks, company meetings,
newsletters and social media to share the message of
suicide prevention.
•• Normalize: Normalize the topic of suicide prevention as a
health and safety priority by talking about suicide, suicide prevention
and mental health.
•• Decrease: Decrease the risk of suicide in construction by helping
to ensure access to and awareness of employee assistance
programs, behavioral health benefits, screening tools, community
crisis support, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Crisis
Text Line.
By signing the pledge, PDCA has committed to making
an impact in the areas of the construction industry that the
association represents.
To learn more about the importance of suicide prevention in
construction, turn to page 103 in this issue of PileDriver, or visit
www.preventconstructionsuicide.com.
Jim Mocker retires from Lally Pipe & Tube
Lally Pipe & Tube recently announced the retirement of Jim
Mocker, an industry leader for 42 years. Mocker spent 35 years as
an executive and vice president at Lally Pipe & Tube.
Mocker is an icon in the pipe piling industry, and he was instrumental
in making the Lally name a recognized and respected supplier
of quality steel pipe and structural pipe throughout North
Amerca. He was ac active member of several professional associations,
inclusing PDCA, the NASPD and DFI.
Mocker’s steel pipe career began while he was a college student
at Ohio State University with Columbus Steel Supply in 1977 and
later joined the Lally team in 1984. During his career with Lally, the
company grew from one location in Latonia, Ky., to six companyowned
facilities and sales offices throughout the U.S.
Mocker and his wife, Lorel, are looking forward to residing in
the upper Midwest. They have three adult children – Jamie, Jack
and Joel, and three “fur babies” – Rufus, Scout and Owen.
With Mocker’s retirement, the senior management of Lally is
please to make the following management promotions:
•• Jack Mocker was named general manager of Lally’s Struthers,
Ohio facility. Jack will be leading the Ohio team and responsible
for managing administrative, plant operations and sales functions.
He has been with Lally since 2012.
•• Bob Mraz was named sales manager of Lally’s Northeast region
and will lead the Northeast sales team, managing the piping and
structural markets. Mraz is an industry veteran who has been
with Lally since 1988.
Photo courtesy of Lally Pipe & Tube
Jim Mocker with one of his “fur babies”
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 119
/www.preventconstructionsuicide.com
/www.piledrivers.org
