April President's Message

Dear IAF Members and Industry Friends,

Spring is here. Some of us may already be out in the yard with gardening gloves on, while others have tackled a bit of spring cleaning. In my last message, I talked about spring as a season of growth and renewal. In that same spirit, I want to kick off this month’s message by talking about something that matters just as much—safety.

As integrators, a large portion of the work we do involves low‑voltage systems. At the same time, those systems often connect to high voltage at power supplies, enclosures, and other points along the way. During installations, our teams are frequently pulling cable, working above ceilings, under floors, in attics, or inside mechanical and electrical rooms. These are familiar environments for all of us.

We’d like to believe that everyone who worked in those spaces before us followed the code and kept safety in mind. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Because of that, it’s critical that our team members stay alert and aware of their surroundings—especially when working on ladders or looking into ceilings and enclosed areas.

The goal of this message is simple: to reinforce awareness around a common‑sense but incredibly important topic. We want everyone to go home safely to their families at the end of each day. Safety truly is everyone’s responsibility.

Please make sure your teams understand lockout/tagout responsibilities and that energized circuits should not be worked on. Take time to review your safety procedures together, so everyone understands the proper methods and why they matter. Electrical incidents can be life‑altering, not only for the individual involved but also for their loved ones.

The younger generation entering our industry is our future, and it’s up to us to teach them the right safety habits from the start. At the same time, no matter how long we’ve been doing this work, we can never afford to get comfortable or complacent. I hope that every spring, this message serves as a reminder to reset and recommit to our safety expectations.

If safety training or support would be helpful for your team, please reach out—we’re more than happy to add additional safety courses to our classes.

Please remember that our 2nd Annual Clay Shoot at Blackjack Sporting Clays in Sumterville is coming up this Saturday on April 18th!!

Lastly, we also have three regional meetings taking place this month. Your local involvement and continued focus are truly appreciated.

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.

Farshid Pourgolafshan
IAF President