b"ealthandSafetyNews Safety and Health Agenda for Roofing Professionals Several weeks ago, MRCA sentardous Chemical List: Materialhealth plans, and networking on a brochure to its members pro Safety Data Sheets (MSDS); andyour behalf in your local regulavidinginformationaboutthean MSDS glossary. Also includedtory and business community. MRCASafety&Healthis a complete Asbestos Program ,That cost is negotiable between Agenda for Roofing Profes includingemployeetrainingyour local cooperative and the sionals (SHARP) program. Thematerials, and an array of docu safetyprofessionalyou would response has been overwhelm mentation materials for employeecontract. Many of the companies ing!So overwhelming, in fact,training for OSHA and DOT com who are already enrolled in the that I want to take this opportunitypliance, and other documentableprogram have been able to orgato provide additional informationevents. The program is a 'living'nize in a way that places their first about the program.program, as are all the other writ year combined total expenses at TheSHARPprogramisten materials. They are updatedaround $6,000. That, of course, essentially a way for a group ofregularly as regulatory require drops to around $5,000 the seccompanieswithinaspecificments change and as new tech ond and subsequent years. This region to join cooperatively tonologies and systems dictate.expenditureisaninvestment acquire a high-quality, company These fees also cover the cost oftoward lower workers' compensaspecific safety and health pro my time to make an annual visittion premiums. As a percentage of gram, and share the services of ato your company for the purposesW/C premiums, it is a very small safety and health professional. Itof a complete safety audit of youramount. is a concept that has been tried,facilitiesandequip- As I said earlier, this program tested, and proven for over twoment, and to helpis not an unknown entity. It years in the Central Kansas Roof fine-tune yourhas been in effect for ing Contractors Safety Associa administra over two years with tion (CKRCSA). The nine membertionofthegreat results.It is companies of the CKRCSA havep r o g r a m.embracedbythe realized lower incidence of acci Theyalsoregulators and recdents and injuries, and are enjoy covermyognizedbythe ingconsistentloweringoftime to con businessand workers' compensation Experi duct four train c o r p o r at eence Modifier Ratings (EMR) andingsessionspercommunity as workers' compensation premi year to train the coopera apro-active ums.tive safety directors in the com vehicle for roofing compaThe program is driven by aponents, training modules, andnies to elevate themselves above combination of employee train documentation of your program.manyoftheircompetitorsin ing, job site inspection and thor The other component of costterms of quality and professionough documentation.for participation in the program isalism. Though I developed this The cost of participation in thedependentuponthesizeandprogram, it is now owned by the SHARP-program includes a one number of companies inyourMRCA. I am contracted by the time start-up cost of $1,000 perregion who participate. A localMRCA to direct the program and company and a maintenance feesafety professional must be con maintain it at the highest state of of $200 per month per company.tracted to administer the programquality. I am committed to safety These fees cover the company as its (and your) safety director.in the roofing industry, and am in specific safety and health pro That includes using all of theit for the long haul.If you are gram; a company-specific safetySHARP materials in the training ofready to make a dedicated commanual, which includes Haz-Matemployees, performance of jobmitment to your employee's safety ShippingPapers;Emergencysite inspections, accident investi and health, we can help you reap Guides; a properly indexed Haz- gations, site-specific safety andContinued on next page"