Plans are underway for the 26th Annual Ironworker Instructor Training Program (July 18-23, 2010). For the first time, the National Training Fund (NTF) is offering a 20-hour course for new Apprenticeship Coordinators and Directors. Each year at the Coordinator's meeting there are requests for a course designed to help Apprenticeship Coordinators and Directors to manage their programs. This course will be available for Apprenticeship Coordinators and Directors who are new in their position (or within their first several years).

A $3.5 million training school affiliated with Ironworkers Local 118 has opened in Stead, a place where apprentices learn the trade and journeymen update their skills, including how to build wind turbines.

Engineering News Record (ENR) magazine's top 20 steel erection contractors include 12 IMPACT signatory contractors across the country. Among those listed are IMPACT management co-chair Bill Brown's company Ben Hur Construction, IMPACT Trustee Alissa Schneider's company Danny's Construction, IMPACT Trustee Donn Taylor's company Century Steel Erectors, Regional Advisory Board (RAB) IX Executive Committee Member Daniel Welsh's company Washington Iron Works, and RAB VI Executive Committee Member Parley Dixon's company Patriot Erectors.

IMPACT has initiated a new Off the Job Accident Disability Plan for Ironworker members. The IMPACT Plan is specifically designed to address off the job accidents. Member's current Health and Welfare plans provide a limited short term disability benefit in the event of sickness or accident off the job. This new IMPACT benefit will supplement the Short Term Accident benefits of a member's current Health and Welfare plan, and the two accident benefits will combine to provide the maximum benefit possible at no extra cost to the member. The IMPACT Plan is set to start November 1st 2009.

The Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), in cooperation with Ken Atha, Regional Administrator for Federal OSHA; Joe Standley, President of the District Council of Iron Workers; Stephen Coffield, Administrator of Nevada OSHA; Dave McEuen, Management Co-Chair for IMPACT Region IX; and Michael Newington, Executive Director of the Western Steel Council, have established a "Steel Erection Training Initiative" to raise the standard of safety performance in the steel erection industry.

IMPACT Trustees have been exploring options for ensuring Ironworkers are able to work on wind farm projects. While Ironworkers have been erecting wind turbines for many years, with the increase in the number of wind farms there has also been an increase in training requirements in three areas: tower climbing / rescue training, torque and tension training and wind turbine maintenance.

The companies of IMPACT Regional Advisory Board (RAB) Members Bob Hoover (Aker Construction, Inc.) RAB III, LeRoy Stromberg (Alberici Constructors) RAB IV, and Steve LaRue (Garco Construction, Inc.) RAB X were among the 2009 Engineering-News Record (ENR) magazine's top 400 contractors list.

As an ironworker apprentice, Bryan Belcher helped build the Griffon roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, hang steel in Scope 's domed ceiling in Norfolk, and construct Virginia Beach's Renaissance Academy.

IMPACT has published three specialized training modules covering Fall Hazards for Connectors, Controlled Decking Zones, and Multiple Lift Rigging Procedures. These modules serve as guides to help emphasize the importance of complying with special training requirements set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Subpart R - Steel Erection Standard.

The 2010 Ironworker Apprenticeship Competition and Conference will be held September 15-20, in Seattle, WA. Next year's competition and conference will mark the first time there will be no registration fee for either the conference or ensuing competition.