September is safety month!

By Emma Peterson. 

Tremco's Safety Month serves as a reminder that the most effective safety programs go beyond checklists. 

Safety is not just about regulatory compliance and checking off boxes on a to-do list – it's about making sure every person on your job site and in your company gets home safe every night. To highlight the importance of safety, and all its forms, Tremco has designated September as their safety month and planned a variety of training sessions and activities to help professionals learn about creating safer workplaces.  

What are the safety concerns in roofing?  

The first and most obvious safety risk in roofing is physical. Roofing is a very physical trade with professionals often being exposed to high powered machinery, dangerous chemicals and unstable working conditions. And when the correct safety plans are not in place, the exposure to these risks can cause irreparable harm. Elise Vue, Tremco’s content marketing manager, used working at heights as an example of how high the stakes are in roofing safety:  

In roofing, employees are expected to work at heights, climb ladders and expose themselves to hazards on a regular basis. Negativity around safety policing and subsequent fines can make employees jaded or skeptical about the protocols put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). However, the data shows that workers who are elevated only six feet or more are at risk for serious injury or death should they fall.  

And the physical risks are just half of the story when it comes to safety concerns in roofing. Something that impacts every member of your team, whether they are in the field or in the office, is mental health. And mental health is a huge concern, as Elise points out, “The construction industry has one of highest rates of suicide compared to other careers.” 

The safe solution 

So how do you promote safety for your team? It takes more than just providing PPE or once-a-year presentations. The best way to keep everyone safe, both physically and mentally, is by building a comprehensive culture of safety at your business. And the first step to doing that is by making a commitment as leaders. Elise explained:  

Leaders should actively articulate their commitment to safety so that it is top of mind, whether in virtual meetings, on job sites or through company-wide communications. This visible support starts to build an environment where safety is not perceived as a controlling activity but as a shared responsibility. For a safety culture to thrive, it must also listen to those on the front lines, empower everyone to speak up and give them a sense of ownership over their safety and that of their colleagues. 

The second step to building a safety culture in your business is to empower your workers. Elise recommends incorporating a “stop-work authority.” What is this? It’s a principle that gives any and every employee the ability to halt any activity that they believe is unsafe without fear of punishment. “The workers on the roof are often the first to spot a potential hazard, but employees may hesitate to challenge a supervisor and may question their own judgement...” Elise explained. “[This type of policy] recognizes that sometimes doing the hard thing is the right thing for everyone’s protection, and everyone is equally responsible for safety and equally successful when safe practices are followed.”  

And last but certainly not least, make sure you are celebrating your safety wins! Talking only about what goes wrong or what not to do can be overwhelming for many people. And while it is important to not forget those scenarios, it is also important to highlight the positives. Consider measuring periods with zero incidents and finding ways of recognizing safety leadership from within your team to help people stay motivated and encouraged to work towards a safer workplace.  

Learn more about safety and Tremco’s safety month programming.