Don’t Roll the Dice With Safety

By The RIDGEPRO®.

When it comes to safety, you don't want to take any chances.

Measure twice… cut once. 

If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. 

Making a plan without tools is like making spaghetti without a pot. 

Some sayings are as old as the hills but there’s usually at least a grain of truth behind most of them. That’s how they’ve lasted through the years. Did you ever hear this one? 

I had a close call on a roof, but I got lucky. 

When it comes to Lady Luck, she is probably best left in the casino or at the poker table in the VFW post. She has no place on the roof and her presence can spell real danger. The only sure bet for staying safe on a roof is a strong culture of safety backed up with a comprehensive program of training and rigorous maintenance of tools and equipment. 

This roofing season has been very busy in many areas of the country due, in part, to severe storms and other weather events. Many roofing contractors have been fully booked with little or no downtime. In these busy months, it’s tempting to ignore best practices and simply keep moving, hoping to catch up in the slow season. No matter how rushed a roofing company is, certain maintenance and safety items should never be put off. 

At the end of each shift: 

• Remind workers to inspect their personal protective equipment including helmet, harness, lanyards, and lifeline.  
• The jobsite safety manager or a designated competent person should inspect equipment shared by multiple team members. 
• Clean any soiled equipment with water and gentle detergent. Allow items to air dry. 
• Ensure that any safety components such as a helmet that was involved in an impact are taken out of service and replaced. 

At least once a year: 

As the season winds down you can schedule a thorough inventory of equipment and materials. Most experts agree that the typical lifespan for a piece of safety equipment is five years unless a recommended replacement time is specified by the manufacturer. Rule of thumb: If a piece of equipment looks worn out, it is.  When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t be a slave to a calendar that doesn’t account for the realities of roofing projects in a particular area of the country. Heat, cold, dampness and other environmental factors all take their toll on the materials used in roofing and construction. 

Take no chances 

The slower months, while potentially challenging for cash flow and keeping workers busy, are also an optimal time to reinforce safety practices and remind workers to get caught up on any safety trainings they need. As tools, equipment, and materials become more technologically advanced, it’s increasingly important to keep current with safety requirements. Recent changes to OSHA inspection regulations mean that unannounced visits are more certain than in the past. Don’t play the odds. Be ready with trained workers and well understood safety practices. 

Reduce the odds 

A company that adheres to good safety practices and maintains equipment properly will find that the chances of an accident or injuries in the workplace are greatly reduced. When you don’t need to rely on Lady Luck on the job, perhaps she’ll pay you back and show up when you call on her in the casino or on the golf course.