Why Safety Matters

Why Safety Matters https://pbroofingco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fallprotectionequipment.jpg 960 640 PB Roofing PB Roofing https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ee28a6949ea6af745b0ddec55b8b9ce1?s=96&d=mm&r=g May 16, 2023 May 16, 2023

Introduction

As roofing is the 6^th most dangerous job in America, creating a safe working environment is critical for those who perform roofing services. “A lack of fall protection, damaged equipment and improper setup are all common risk factors that result in injuries every year” (OSHA)

2023 National Safety Stand Down Week

May 1^st – 5^th, 2023 was the 10th Anniversary of the National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction. “A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on ‘Fall Hazards’ and reinforcing the importance of ‘Fall Prevention’”. (OSHA). Together as an industry, we raised fall hazard awareness and reinforced standard safety policies.

Safety Essentials

Safety precautions go far beyond some of the well-known items associated with a construction or roofing project. Accessories like safety vests and hardhats are commonly regarded as project critical, but here are some things you may not realize that are part of a safe jobsite and utilized by safe roofing technicians:

Fall Arrest Restraint Harnesses: Every technician working on a height-sensitive job (defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] as 6-feet or more) is outfitted with a personal fall arrest and restraint harnesses with shock-absorbing lanyards. These systems utilize roof anchor points, rope lines and pole straps in the personal fall arrest setup. A full-body harness has the power to stop even the most serious falls. The fall arrest line is attached to the point on the harness that will provide the most suitable protection for the situation.
Site Inspections: Every member of a roofing technician team depends on one another’s experience and training to create a safe jobsite. Site inspection, education, and communicative collaboration are essential in delivering the safest jobsite experiences for both the technicians and clients.

On the Jobsite

A priority on every roofing project is a site-specific safety plan. This will identify potential hazards and how to neutralize them. OSHA puts forth a regularly evolving list of regulations that commercial roofers must follow. OSHA inspectors will conduct random assessments of jobsites, and will issue fines and shut down operations if they find violations:

Safe roof access
Safe work materials transport
Secure walkways
Roof opening protection (skylights, vents, shafts, stovepipes, etc.)
Hazardous material removal and disposal
Working in adverse weather conditions
Proper placement and use of work materials
Proper ladder and lift operation
Hydration and nutrition

When everyone knows exactly what their job is and what equipment they should be prepared to use, the incidence of on-the-job accidents is significantly reduced.

Operational Benefits

The primary safety-affected operational benefit for a commercial roofer is the positive influence it has on completing projects in a timely and orderly manner. It is not beneficial for the health and safety of roofing technicians for companies to take on projects that will forego safety for increased profit or an expedited result.

Commercial roofing technicians are more productive in workplaces that are committed to proactive health and safety practices, which further reduces downtime caused by accidents or illness means a less-interrupted jobsite.

“To complete a quality and profitable project on schedule, you must eliminate jobsite hazards and risks, deploy a workforce that follows all rules and regulations and invoke a relentless, always improving, safety culture. Any firm that invests in safety practices is going to experience a positive return on their investment (ROI). Injuries lead to higher insurance premiums and potential OSHA fines, which can be detrimental to a company’s viability. Your safety culture will allow you to achieve a high level of productivity and competitiveness that is crucial for success.” (TradeSource).

A Trustworthy Relationship

Why would any property manager or owner expect roofing professionals to operate in an environment that does not put safety at the forefront? This is a sad reality for many companies that fail to provide safe conditions for their team. The penalty is a steep one, though, it means that they will be unable to retain their team and lose credibility in hiring future members to their organization.

The Client Reaps the Rewards

Commercial roof management is a vital part of building management that requires professional expertise and knowledge. A professional roofing company provides safety, cost-effectiveness, warranties and guarantees, time-savings, and ensures building codes and regulations compliance. Property managers and owners should consider contacting a professional roofing company for commercial roof asset management support to ensure it remains in good condition and avoid long-term expensive repairs.

About PB Roofing

PB Roofing is a dynamic company that evolves and grows with the needs of the industry, and the client. Our committed and capable team is available on-demand to personally fulfill any commercial roofing request. Our elevated service seeks to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning client.

Always aiming to put the right people in the right seats, we have also recently structured a Client Experience Team, with a singular focus: “such attention to customers requires a closed-loop process in which every function worries about delivering a good experience.” (Harvard Business Review). Every experience a client has with PB Roofing is collectively shaped by our depth of industry and service knowledge, our vision, our culture, and our results.

About PB University

We have developed the PB University Learning Platform. The PBU program is a hybrid model that utilizes competitive, gamified online learning supported by a points system with prize redemption. with a variety of practical, hands-on education events throughout each year. Each level of PBU is designed to build our team’s depth of practical knowledge from the ground up, but to also provide career advancement opportunities within the company. To reinforce continuous teamwork within our organization, we have appointed PBU Ambassadors to keep each other motivated and engaged.