Safety doesn't happen by accident

By Greg Serevetas.

RCS Influencer Greg Serevetas says investing in preparing your subcontractors pays dividends in terms of minimizing risks.

The first and foremost step that our company takes to ensure our subcontractor's work and safety is aligned with ours is having a briefing session with the subcontractor. During this meeting, we discuss our company's safety protocols and review our Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP). We believe you need to go the extra mile when it comes to safety and subcontractors, especially with the amount of potential hazards in commercial roofing. It has been our experience that subcontractors typically do not have safety programs in place, nor are they aware of the OSHA standards when it comes to fall protection, ladder safety, proper PPE, etc.

Our in-house safety and training supervisor leads these discussions. He collaborates with subcontractors to ensure a thorough understanding of our safety expectations and work quality. This collaborative approach not only aligns everyone with our safety standards but also creates a collective responsibility for the work environment.

Our supervisor also conducts training that covers a spectrum of critical areas, leaving as little room for oversight as possible. The types of training range from drug and alcohol awareness to emergency evacuation procedures, fall protection, ladder safety, driver safety and comprehensive guidelines on the steps and procedures to be followed in the unfortunate event of an incident or accident.

This training is to equip our subcontractors with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate potential challenges safely. We believe that investing in this level of preparedness pays dividends in terms of minimizing risks and creating an environment where safety is a priority. Like a wise person once said, “Safety doesn't happen by accident."

Greg Serevetas is the vice president of USA General Contractors Corp. See his full bio here.

About USA General Contractors, Corp.

Since its inception in 1993, USA GCC has established itself as an elite construction company in the Tri-State area. We have been family owned and operated since 1993. Our reputation was built on hard work, dedication and, of course, top-quality performance. We are 100% committed to providing unparalleled service to each of our clients.