Safety First: How to Create a Building Safety Plan That is Guaranteed to Prevent Falls

By Adam Cabrera. 

One of the main gaps in jobsite safety is the failure to plan adequately for fall prevention. 

In a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with guests Cheryl Ambrose and Rich Trewyn of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) who shared insight into fall prevention and building safety plans. 

Not just in roofing but across the construction industry as a whole, a high incidence of falls leading to injuries and fatalities has remained a pressing issue. "Falls in construction have been an issue and it's claimed way too many lives, injured way too many people," said Cheryl. 

The discussion pointed out a significant gap in training, especially in self-rescue, which is crucial for workers in the event of a fall. "It's one of those areas that we saw in the survey that shows that there's a lacking of proper training for both fall protection in general, and that rescue training," Cheryl noted.  

Along those same lines, one of the main contributing factors to falls is the failure to adequately plan. "Companies actually tell us, 'I never thought of it that way. We have a great fall protection program, but we don't have the rescue program,'" Rich said 

Rich stressed the role of the competent person on-site, saying, "In order to do fall prevention training right, that competent person needs to be there. They need to have the knowledge; they need to understand what they're training." 

During National Safety Stand-Down Week in May, NRCA collaborates with OSHA and other organizations to raise awareness about fall prevention and worker safety. The association even offers a two-day fall protection trainer course, highlighting the importance of professional training in risk management. 

Whether you're a safety director or work alongside one, the resources offered by the NRCA can make a world of difference. Rich advised, "For those of you that aren't safety directors but have one within your company, let them know about NRCA." 

Read the transcript or listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about building safety plans and how you can create a safer jobsite.