Groundhog Day on the Job

By Brandon Strawder, The RIDGEPRO®.

Decrease instances of injury on your job site. 

In the movie, Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s weatherman character, Phil, does just about everything he can think of to break out of the vicious loop he’s trapped in, even kidnapping the famous Punxsutawney groundhog. Once Phil has finally learned his lesson, the universe allows his life to break free of the negative pattern and move forward. In business, patterns are sometimes tough to identify, and we stay stuck in the loop. 

Are injuries becoming a pattern in your company? 

An occasional on the job injury could be expected over the course of a year in a roofing company. Sooner or later, a worker is going to cut their hand on a sharp piece of flashing or twist an ankle carrying materials over uneven ground. However, when injuries become frequent, or repeating themselves in identical or slightly different ways; that’s a clue that safety practices need analysis and intervention from management. 

Use the data you already have  

This month is a wintry and slow month for roofing in many regions. These often bitter, short days can be an excellent time to take a look at the past year’s injury rates and safety practices. Start your review by looking at last year’s incident reports. Total up the basic numbers.  

• How many slips or trips? 

• Fall from height or ladders? 

• Lacerations, sprains or bruises? 

• Machine or equipment related accidents? 

• Weather related problems from heat or cold? 

When making the list, also note individual workers, teams and job categories. This effort will take some time, but it will be well worth it. 

Are you picking up any patterns? We hope so because the patterns hold answers for making your jobsite safer. A lower accident rate reduces workers’ insurance premiums, but more importantly, fewer claims mean that fewer workers were injured. Then, once you see the weak spots, it’s time to make a plan to correct them.  

Accentuate the positive 

It’s important to remember that not all patterns are negative. You will also learn what you’re doing right. Do some crews have no injuries or a very low rate? Reach out to those crew members and ask for their “secrets.” Communicate your findings to other teams and highlight the members who have the lowest injury records.  

Motivate safety 

Make safety a prize and not a duty. As the new roofing season starts, own it as a fresh start on safety practices. Implement those safety trainings and checklists you promised yourself you’d do last season. Once site safety becomes a goal, everyone’s eye is on the prize. 

Learn more about The RIDGEPRO® in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit theridgepro.com.