b'Presidents MessageSafety impacts your business in important waysBob Schenkel, MRCA PresidentM embership has its privileges. Your MRCA membership has that and value, too.In this MR issue I wish to share with you a membership value that is perhaps a bit underestimated, but can impact your business in important ways.Several years ago the MRCAs Operation and Safety Committee embarked on the task of creating a review of contractors individual safety programs, resulting in the MRCA Safety Recognition Program. I recall the discussions were lengthy, as reviews had to be unbiased, protect and not divulge the contractors name in the review process and return the Committees review with helpful critiques of how to improve the contractors safety programs.As contractors, we all have safety programs, designed to ensure our employees have a safe place to work.In the unfortunate event that your program or any aspect of your program, falls under the investigative eye of OSHA for any reason,are you sure your program has the necessary elements that will withstand such scrutiny and help protect your company?If your program is not specifically designed for your company, you may have issues.Boiler plate programs may not be your best bet!How often do you review your safety program?We dont need to be safety experts, but we do need to find the experts and implement the safety education (and protection) we can gain from them.The MRCAs Safety recognition program is not a total review of the contractors safety program. It is a sampling of 810 questions, some with multiple parts, about certain aspects of your program, i.e., Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Heat Stress Program, etc. For example, within the PPE portion of your program, do you include the following: Do you require daily inspections of harnesses and lanyards before each use of any PPE that is to be worn by the employee?Does your safety director demonstrate to new hires how to fit and wear their harnesses? Does your safety director have the new hires put on and adjust their own harnesses a few times to ensure they are doing it correctly?How often do you or your safety director inspect harnesses and lanyards?All submitted programs, once received by our Association office, are sent to our legal counsel, Mr. Gary Auman, Esq., at the offices of Dunlevey, Mahan & Furry.The name of the submitting contractor is cleansed from all documents and then the program is assigned a number. The identities of the submitting contractors are not revealed at any time to the grading committee members. Answers to the questions are graded by each committee member and then the scores are calculated to establish the average score. Working with Gary Auman, the Operation and Safety committee created these criteria.In 2014, the first year this program was offered, the MRCA received 25 applications.Of these 25 submissions, 9 were Bronze recipients, 8 were Silver and 6 were Gold recipients. Last year the Operations and Safety Committee received 35 applications. Of these, 4 were Bronze recipients, 9 were Silver recipients and 13 were Gold recipients and one achieved the first Platinum award. All contractors that submitted an application received a review letter along with their certificate, explaining and outlining how their program can be improved.Even if you do not achieve a recognition level the first year you apply, you will receive comments that will assist you in improving your program so you can receive recognition the next time you apply. I believe the contractors who have participated have found the letters very helpful in strengthening their individual programs.I have had conversations with other participating contractors who have found this program truly beneficial. You will find the application for this years Safety Recognition Program at mrca.org.With the launch of the MRCA Elite Contractor Program (MERC) at MRCAs 2015 Conference, achieving a minimum of Bronze recognition is a requirement to the MRCA Elite Contractor program. Whether or not you plan to achieve MERC certification, the review of your safety program provides your company a tremendous member value. I urge you to take advantage of this value today!Be safe, stay safe,Bob SchenkelCL Schust Company, Fort Wayne, IN rschenkel@clschust.com4 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'