Roof Safety 101

As most roofing professionals are already aware, a successful workplace safety plan is multifaceted and must address potential hazards both on the job and in the office. When it comes to roof safety, you most likely already have a solid set of policies and procedures that your team follows to ensure the well-being of everyone on the job. That being stated, the skills and knowledge regarding proper safety protocol must be practiced and tested on a somewhat regular basis to enforce lessons and maintain awareness at all times. As with anything, if a skill is not used or needed, it often becomes a weakness, leaving your team vulnerable to hazards that could have been prevented.

For this reason, Brauner Safety Services highly recommends that all contractors train and retrain their team members. From the newest person on the job to your most seasoned roofers and foremen, everyone can and will gain strength in safety through repetition and regular training.

To jumpstart your refresher and get your team focused on safety, here are a few basic tips that any roofer can follow…

Year after year, falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry. To protect roofers, contractors, subcontractors, and clients from serious injury and death, it is important to identify hazards when working on rooftops, as well as follow basic safety steps to control those hazards. Here is a quick view of some of the most common rooftop hazards that should be identified and controlled to keep your team members safe:

1. Fall Hazards – With fall protection being at the top of OSHA’s most frequently cited standards list, it is critical that all hazards are identified and handled prior to beginning any job. Factors to consider include structural strength, holes, guardrail placement, ladder location and maintenance, quality of fall protection and safety equipment.
2. Tools – A variety of tools are required to complete any roofing project, and the proper use, maintenance and storage of those tools is essential to maintaining a safe environment. Just one tool in the wrong place can lead to slips and falls, and defective equipment can lead to injuries to both the structure and your team.  For this reason, it is essential that you have a solid set of guidelines in place for handling equipment and power tools on the job, along with proper training on how to use them (especially torches – see CERTATraining.com)
3. Weather – From extreme heat and cold to lightning and high winds, roofers are exposed to high risks associated with weather. Something as simple as a toolbox talk before you start the day could be an easy way to address any weather-related concerns and assess if it is safe to be on the roof and how you will mitigate such hazards.
4. PPE – Personal protective equipment is an important part of your team’s resources, and as an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that all team members have access to and are properly using PPE. Such equipment may include but is not limited to non-slip footwear, gloves, hard hat, eye protection, fall protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, weather gear, etc.
5. Signs – According to OSHA, there are three types of safety signs—danger signs, warning signs, and caution signs. It is important to have all appropriate signs placed where and when necessary.
6. Cleanliness – All it takes is a single misplaced nail or small tool to cause a slip on the roof. It is vital that your team makes a conscious effort to keep the roof clean and free of items that can cause accidents or materials that can obstruct or limit visibility of the roof.
7. Guardrails – In addition to the use of guardrails for fall protection, skylights and other openings should be properly guarded and labeled with visible warning signs to prevent falls. Safety equipment such as Safety Rail Company’s skylight guards, screens and barriers can offer additional protection for skylights.

While it would take well more than a single blog post to cover everything you need to know about roofing safety, the above listed areas provide a good place to start for thinking about and developing your safety plan. Brauner Safety Services can help take the guesswork out of creating a safety plan and training your team. In just one click, you can book a consultation where Brauner Safety Services will create a customized roadmap for your team’s safety and success on the job. To learn more and reserve a training or book a consultation, contact Jim Brauner today!

New Website Launched for BraunerSafety.com

Brauner Safety Services is pleased to announce a new and improved website that has just launched this week. As most readers are already aware, Brauner Safety Services offers both Roofing Safety and CERTA training, and now you can access all of the training information you need in one complete website.  By visiting BraunerSafety.com, you will open the door to one website that includes a list of all of the current roofing and construction safety training programs available.  While we’ve changed our look, we are still offering the professional and personal service that clients have come to know and appreciate from Jim Brauner and Brauner Safety Services.

In order to make it easier to navigate, pages have been condensed to focus on the most popular programs and address the most frequently asked questions.  More stories from the field and industry news will be shared on our social networks, which are now easily accessible through the FaceBook, LinkedIn, and Twitter icons on bottom of every page on BraunerSafety.com.

Looking for our Blog?  Now, you can simply access it from the main menu; you will be redirected to our regular blog from there. To stay “in-the-know” and receive the latest updates, we encourage you to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and FaceBook.  Not on social media?  No problem – You can also subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter to receive a summary of updates directly to your “Inbox”.

Stay tuned – We may be adding new features in the coming months, as programs and our latest website continues to develop.

To learn more about roofing safety training and programs, visit Brauner Safety Services.  To schedule your next safety training, contact Jim Brauner: 407-403-3959.

Safety Tips for the New Year

Photo by Mikael Blomkvist on Pexels.com

For roofing and construction professionals, keeping crews and team members safe can feel like a full-time job. The high risks associated with the industry are widely known, and as a business owner or manager, it is critical that you stay on top of the latest safety standards, trends, and technologies to ensure that you are providing the safest conditions and environment for your employees.

To help get you started and focused on safety in the new year, here are a few basic tips and ideas to keep in mind:

1. Train Your Team – From the most experienced foreman to the youngest roofer on the job, everyone can benefit from safety training. The truth is that just like any skill, safety requires practice to stay sharp and maintain a solid knowledge base. For this reason, regular safety trainings and refreshers on policies and procedures should be a part of your annual planning.
2. Review Your Policy – The new year is the perfect time to review your current safety plan, policies, and procedures. Are your documents and forms valid and updated with the latest safety standards? Are all team members familiar with your policies including equipment/tool use and storage, reporting guidelines, checklists, PPE, etc.?
3. Train Your Office Team – Don’t limit training to just your field employees – Safety should be part of your corporate culture. Trainings including CPR, First Aid, and AED are equally as important on and off the job site, as well as hazard communication, emergency and evacuation plans, illness/injury reporting and more.
4. Check Equipment– Even the highest quality equipment will endure and show its fair share of wear and tear over time. For this reason, it is critical that you review your inventory to ensure that all equipment is in good condition and replace and/or upgrade any equipment that is outdated or in need of repair.
5. Get (and Stay) Organized – At the start of the new year it is not uncommon for people (and businesses) to purge and organize. In addition to reviewing and organizing equipment and tools in storage, consider conducting a Toolbox Talk or meeting to address proper organization and tool storage on the job site. Simple practices can sometimes require a gentle reminder such as ensuring that no tools are lying around, and that lights and power tools are turned off and unplugged when not in use. Through proper organization and storage, you can prevent unnecessary damage of tools and avoid potential injuries, as well as allow easy navigation and access to tools which can save time on the job.
6. Have an Emergency Response Plan – An emergency response plan provides direction to your team on what they should do when emergencies like natural disasters, fire, hazardous material spills, or other related incidents occur. In addition to appropriate policies and documentation, it is helpful to have a dedicated team that is responsible for managing emergency crises, answering questions, and reporting potential hazards, quality issues, etc.
7. Set up Safeguards – One way to ensure safety on the job site is by using engineering controls such as barriers, fences, and safeguards; such controls will assist in isolating people from hazardous areas. If you don’t already have fall protection equipment, rail, and skylight safety guards, contact Brauner Safety Services for the latest in safety technology and to learn more about equipment that provides security.

While the above listed tips and areas of focus are just a small part of a comprehensive safety plan, you can learn more about improving safety both on and off the job site by contacting Brauner Safety Services. Brauner Safety is your one-stop shop for all training, gear and equipment needs. Gain access to top-quality and specialized safety gear from trusted and reputable industry brands, and keep crews safe and confident on the job by sharpening their safety skills and gaining industry-trusted certifications.

Preparing Workers for Winter Weather Risks

As the beloved holiday classic song says, “it’s the most wonderful time of year”. And while many of us will be preparing our homes and offices for the holiday cheer, it is also a time of year to pay special attention to some seasonal safety basics.

While Brauner Safety Services is based in Florida and does not face extreme cold-weather conditions, training and consulting services are provided throughout the U.S., and many clients are currently facing or preparing for cold weather that can pose serious challenges for outdoor workers, including construction and roofing professionals.

According to OSHA, winter weather can expose outdoor workers to frostbite, hypothermia, and cold stress, all of which can be fatal, and while OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a workplace which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress.

For this reason, OSHA has dedicated a section of its website to educating and preparing employers for cold-weather hazards, offering resources and guidelines to keep you and your team safe. OSHA’s “Winter Weather: Prepare, Equip, Train” campaign and pages offer the latest safety information that any employer can use to keep team members safe during the cold winter months.  Here are just a few important and common areas covered that employers should consider when reviewing or creating their own winter weather safety plans:

1. Winter Driving – At Brauner Safety Services, driving safety training is offered, and there are specific considerations related to cold weather. Although employers cannot control roadway conditions, they are certainly able to promote safe driving and prepare workers to recognize hazardous conditions, while understanding ways to mitigate risks. In addition to recognizing seasonal roadway risks, employers should implement a vehicle maintenance program to ensure vehicles are fully operational and properly equipped for cold temperatures; such preparations include vehicle safety checks, emergency kits, snowstorm driving procedures, hazard communication planning and more.  For information about driving safely during the winter, visit OSHA’s Safe Winter Driving handout.
2. Removing Snow from Roofs and Elevations – Workers should be aware of the potential for unexpected hazards due to cold weather conditions. A surface (including rooftops) that is weighed down by snow should be inspected by a competent person to determine if it is structurally safe for workers to access it, as it may be at risk of collapsing. Additionally, snow-covered rooftops can hide hazards such as skylights, and if the appropriate rails and guards are not in place, it can easily be overlooked, leading to a fall through. Employers can protect workers from these hazardous conditions in a number of ways including using snow removal methods that do not involve workers going on roofs, as well as determining the right type of equipment (ladders, aerial lifts, etc.) and personal protective equipment (personal fall arrest systems, non-slip safety boots, etc.) for the job. For more information, see OSHA’s Hazard Alert: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces
3. Work Zone Traffic Safety – Although preventative measures can be very effective, according to OSHA workers being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment continue to lead to numerous work zone fatalities or injuries every year. Cold weather conditions can lead to drivers losing control of their vehicles more easily, and for this reason, it is critical to properly set up work zones with the traffic controls identified by signs, cones, barrels, and barriers. Additionally, workers who are exposed to vehicular traffic should wear the appropriate high visibility vest at all times. You can learn more from OSHA by visiting: Work Zone Traffic Safety and Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades (OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page).
4. Cold Stress – While cold stress is a common risk, it can be prevented. The important thing to keep in mind is that cold stress is not limited to frigid and extreme conditions alone; cold stress and its impacts can vary across different regions. For example, in regions that are not accustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered factors for “cold stress,” while other cold-weather regions have different guidelines for identifying cold stress conditions. Wind also plays a factor as increased wind speed can cause heat to leave the body more rapidly (wind chill effect). Wetness or dampness, even from body sweat, also facilitates heat loss from the body. In short, cold stress occurs by decreasing the skin temperature, and eventually the internal body temperature, leading to the body being unable to properly warm and regulate temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur. Types of cold stress include but are not limited to trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia. As published by OSHA, risk factors for cold stress include: Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion; predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes; poor physical conditioning.

For more information, see OSHA’s Cold Stress Safety and Health Guide.

While the above listed areas serve as a good place to start preparing your crews for cold weather, they are just a small piece of a proper cold weather preparedness plan. To access the complete list of safety guidelines and resources covered by OSHA, visit their Winter Weather Safety page here. To have a consulting session to review your current safety plan, create a new one, and improve your team’s safety training practices and certifications, contact Brauner Safety Services.