Jason Meza
By Tim Conway
There are all kinds of hazards in construction. But imagine if your job were to work with a type of material that, with one false move or misstep, could at any moment slice through your skin and send you to the ER for stitches — or much, much worse.
Welcome to the world of sheet metal. In this world, caution is everything. That’s why we’re proud to award our very first eMOD Safety Hero award to Jason Meza, a sheet metal foreman with Therma.
Jason was nominated for the award by Dome Construction’s Erick Aguayo, who said:
“Jason’s timeliness and attention to detail when turning in his safety documentation is much appreciated. He’s always thinking ahead to ensure his crew, and those working around him, are working safely — and make it home safely.”
I recently had a chance to catch up with the 50-year-old father-of-two at a job site. The South San Francisco resident has accomplished a lot in his three decades of working in commercial construction. But he said his greatest professional accomplishment was returning to work after suffering from a brain aneurysm. That’s certainly the kind of life event that puts the importance of safety into a proper perspective.
I asked Jason a few questions about safety on the job site, and here’s what he had to say:
What are some of the biggest hazards in working with HVAC and sheet metal?
The biggest hazards are cuts from sheet metal. We do everything we can to prevent them — from using proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and proper lifting to doing proper planning.
How do you approach that safely and remove risk?
We make sure to take the time to assess our surroundings. You have to be fully aware of the task at hand.
Has safety improved in your trade during recent years?
Yes, there have been Incremental improvements over time.
You were nominated because of your “timeliness and attention to detail.” Can you describe how those attributes come into play in your daily job?
I try to balance safety with productivity. I do not cut corners. Safety is always the top priority.
Do you ever find it difficult to balance safety with the pressure to make progress on a job?
No. Safety is always the top priority and focus.
What do you think is the biggest (industry) challenge when it comes to safety in commercial construction?
Training the next generation of workers, and showing them the rights and wrongs. It’s important to take the time to do things safely. It’s not worth taking short cuts.
What does it mean to you to be honored as a “Safety Hero”?
That’s nice recognition. I appreciate the attention eMOD has given to setting safety standards.
I hear you’ve been using the eMOD app. How is it working for you?
It definitely helps keep you in check and also reminds you of things you may not be thinking about.
Congratulations Jason and thanks for being a true Safety Hero!
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What is the eMOD Safety Hero Award?
Once a month, eMOD highlights someone working in the commercial construction industry who practices their craft with a safety-first approach. We recognize heroes who put safety ahead of productivity, who take action today to make our work safer tomorrow, who do the right thing rather than the most convenient. They promote accountability among team members, champion the latest safety practices, and encourage transparency about hazardous situations as they arise.
In addition to being featured on our blog, each winner receives a great prize package!
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Tim Conway is an assistant project manager at Dome Construction.