Roofing Company Takes Safety to the Next Level

By Karen L. Edwards. 

The only roofing contractor with OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Mobile Workforce Star status celebrated 15 years of this prestigious recognition. 

The first week of the new year saw the CFE, Inc. team, Evans Roofing Company, focused on their week-long safety trainings. On January 5, the team heard from their regional OSHA director who expressed his congratulations for the company’s 15th year as an OSHA VPP Star recipient for their mobile workforce.  

I had the pleasure of attending some of the training and hearing from the OSHA director about the commitment it takes from the company and the team to continue to maintain this status. Evans Roofing Company Corporate Risk Manager Wesley Mozgawa A.S.C. shared what the designation means to the team. “This is a big piece of our pride that we carry with us. You can see it in how they walk and talk and how they perform.”  

According to OSHA.gov, VPP “recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries.” 

The Evans Roofing Company team thrives in the culture of safety that the organization has built. “The safety culture in this company is absolutely second to none,” explains Wes. “The goal is that everyone goes home.” 

It’s a true commitment from the company itself to earn and maintain the VPP status. There is self-evaluation that must take place along with visits from OSHA every three years. It takes a team to manage the safety across the company’s four locations and in the numerous states where they are licensed to work. As Wes says, “there is a lot of paperwork involved.” 

Evans Roofing Company, Inc. VP Bob Pringle explained that VPP was first created for manufacturing environments in fixed locations. “But the contractor had a story to tell, so OSHA started something called a mobile workforce. And that's for any contractor that's mobile, from roofing to HVAC to landscapers to plumbers.” 

There are two levels of VPP Workforce; Merit and STAR. CFE, Inc. received Mobile Workforce Merit in 2012 and shortly after STAR status in 2015. Shortly after CFE, Inc. was on their way to VPP status their union subsidiary Charles F. Evans Company, Inc. embarked on their VPP journey achieving Mobile Workforce STAR status.  

Once CFE, Inc. earned their VPP status, they commit to mentor other trades in their area who want to become VPP. “It's one of our commitments to the VPP process,” explains Bob. “It's our responsibility to nurture, coach and mentor other companies that want to do it.” 

There is a financial commitment that comes with maintaining and managing the program, but Bob says “we never put profitability over safety.” In fact, he cites OSHA data that says for every dollar invested in safety, a company will see an eight-dollar return on investment.  

Bob shared that he is happy to talk to any contractors who may be interested in earning their OSHA VPP Mobile Workforce certification. Reach out to the company on their website, www.evansroofingcompany.com or learn more at OSHA.gov/vpp.  

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About Karen   

Karen L. Edwards is the COO at RoofersCoffeeShop and a marketing consultant and freelance writer for the roofing industry. When she is not working, she is watching or attending sporting events, listening to music and spending time with family.