Safety Tips for the New Year

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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your inventory to ensure that all equipment is in good condition and replace and/or upgrade any equipment that is outdated or in need of repair.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.

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