b'Garys CornerBut, is it SAFETY or LUCK?Gary AumanAuman, Mahan & FurryAs I write the letters critiquing the applications of thoseyour employees do? contractors who took the time to participate in the 2017 BestMany contractors believe that they do not need to have their Practices in Safety Recognition Program, I become aware again ofsafety program reviewed because they spent thousands of dollars how little many contactors really know about safety. Ask yourself,to have someone develop it for them or because they are using do you really know what it takes to make and keep your employeesthe same program that was recommended to them by another safe, or have you been cruising along waiting in the belief that youcontractor. But, what makes the other contractor a safety expert? must be doing all that is necessary because your EMR for workersHow do you equate dollars spent to having a solid program? In compensation is very low. In other words, since you are payingthe trade associations I represent I have heard many times the a workers comp premium that is below the base rate, you muststatement I do not need to have my safety program reviewed be having fewer injuries and, therefore your employees must bebecause (fill in the blank). But, when those who have made working safely. But, is it SAFETY or LUCK? that statement got around to having the program anonymously Thinking that because you have never had a serious accidentreviewed by safety professionals in their industry they have found or injury (so far) is because you have a good safety program (eventhat there were significant parts missing from their program. Some though you dont train or enforce your program and maybe haveprograms were very tightly written when they were first reviewed, never even reviewed your safety program) is like a gambler tellingbut many needed a significant amount of work.himself or herself that winning at the casino is skill, not luck.The MRCA, as a member service, makes available to its Many people feel that because they have spent a lot of money onmembers a best practices safety recognition program. The cost safety consultants or because they have downloaded a complexto participate is $500.00. What is the price you place on safety? and detailed safety program from the internet, they have doneShould you not make a small investment to have eight important all they can do to ensure that their employees are working safely.parts of your safety program reviewed? Think again. Many of you will say that you cannot do more than you do already. You will say that you cannot afford to have aIn 2017 one of the safety program components we covered safety manager with your company or you cannot afford to hireaddressed EAPs.So, ask yourself this questionDo you have an someone to review your existing program. Perhaps you are sayingEAP? No, I am not referring to an Employee Assistance Program. to yourself that safety is something you will take care of when youI am referring to an Emergency Action Plan. Did you know that get your profit picture to where you want it and can take someyou are required to have such a plan? Do you have one? Does your time and spend some money to fix your safety situation. Well, thatplan cover all potential emergency situations? Does you plan serious accident that has not yet occurred will not wait for youidentify someone to be responsible for surveying each new job to get to the point in your business you want to be at to finallysite to determine all egress points from the roof; to identify the get around to safety. You may not have the luxury of waiting thathazards that exist in the building you are working on or on the roof you think you have. itself? Are you addressing natural (tornadoes, hurricanes, straight In January, the employee of a contractor in Northwest Ohioline winds, ice and snow) as well as manmade (fires, toxic gases, was doing a roof tear off just as he probably had done many timesliquids or fumes) emergencies? Who is in charge of declaring an before. He had not been trained to test his walking and workingemergency and ordering evacuation from the roof? How is the surface for its integrity, nor was he wearing a PFAS. As a result, aorder to evacuate the roof communicated to the entire crew? Is cross brace he went to stand on broke under his weight and he fellthis same person in charge of directing employees to the safest to his death. I do not have the details on the accident as of writingegress point? Did you identify, in your program for that project, this article because OSHA has not completed its investigation,a gathering point for all employees away from the building? Who but it is my understanding that no one enforced any safety rules;is in charge of making a head count to ensure the entire crew is no one made sure he was tied off; no one trained him in hazardsafe? What actions are to be taken if not all of the crew assembles recognition and no one ensured that the cross brace he went toat the gathering place? Is this entire EAP for each jobsite created stand on would support his weight. WHO is making sure that alland communicated to all employees before the job begins?of your employees KNOW all of the parts of your safety programHad you participated in the 2017 Best Practices in Safety that apply to them and the work that they do? WHO makes sureRecognition Program you would have received a critique of your every day, ALL DAY, that every one of your employees are workingEAP along with eight other parts of your safety program. So, get safely and in compliance with your safety rules? Who has everyour company in the 2018 program. It is important to do all that looked at your safety program (scope, compliance, training andyou can to see that your employees are provided a safe place to enforcement) to be sure that it effectively covers all of the workwork every day.12 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'