MEME: Tools Down, Wellness Up: Addressing Health in the Trades to Secure the Next Generation
Virtual (Microsoft Teams), Virtual
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
iCalendar
Eastern Standard Time
Seminar Description: The fire protection industry is at a crossroads. With an aging workforce expected to retire en masse within the nest 5-10 years, common habits around health and lifestyle contributing to a higher prevalence of chronic disease in the trades, and a culture rooted in overindulgence and convenience, how can we attract and retain the health conscious younger generation? This presentation reveals statistics and findings from an industry-wide health and wellness survey and compares it to CDC/NIOSH annual statistics. We'll explore how current health habits may be impacting job performance, career longevity and industry culture, and encourage open discussion while offering anecdotal evidence from the presenters' own experience in the industry, really digging into why prioritizing wellness, mental-health, and work-life balance is essential for employers to sustain the skilled trades workforce of tomorrow.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the current state of health and wellness in the fire protection industry based on survey data.
Compare health trends in our industry to national averages and discuss potential implications.
Discuss barriers to prioritize wellness in the field and brainstorm culturally appropriate solutions.
Kacee Paige kacee.paige@jci.com