b'SHARP SAFETY PROGRAMSHARPHelping Members Evolve and Improve Their Safety CultureT he Midwest Roofing Contractors Association has a longthe MRCAs Legal Services Plan for specific questions or tradition of providing safety resources to its membersadditional direction.through the SHARP Safety Program.The addition of theMembers who participate in the program get far more Safety Awards Program to MRCAs Membership Services hasthan just a plaque. They gain an affordable tool to make magnified the resources available for constantly improvingsure they are improving and evolving their safety culture and evolving member safety programs and cultures.year over year.An effective safety program doesnt just sit Each spring, the Operations and Safety Committee worksidly on the shelf all year.An excellent program is one that with MRCA General Counsel, and nationally renownedhas a commitment to full implementation and enforcement. OSHA and Workers Compensation attorney, Gary AumanA superior program is one that is constantly evolving to of Auman Mahan and Furry to develop a set of questions the application process alone targeting critical areas of a safety program. Participating members submit their answers on how their programsmade us think differently about meet these key areas for evaluation.The answers are scored and totaled, and the applications are placed intowhat our safety plan contained categories of Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum based onand includedtheir efficacy, thoroughness, and compliance.One company who has used this program successfullymeet changing regulatory and industry changes.was also MRCAs first Platinum Award Winner, DiamondBob Poutre of Roof Tech, Inc. in Stillwater, Minnesota Roofing of Dodge City, Kansas. They have participatedrelated that, the application process alone made us in the MRCA safety award since its inception.Companythink differently about what our safety plan contained and President, Kevin Gwaltney, said the program, helped improveincluded. In reviewing our submission, our safety director and our safety culture by highlighting some important gaps instaff asked ourselves questions from a different perspective. our safety plan.He noted that they have successfullyWe hope to learn from the review and suggestions that used their Platinum Safety Award status in their businesswe received on how to improve our program.We were development plan to help communicate to customersthrilled that our program earned a Gold Award, but being their commitment to safety. as competitive as we are, we have set our sights on the The greatest long-term benefit to members who participatenext level of award.is the fully-customized, confidential letter provided by AumanApplications will be available online at mrca.org at the that specifically addresses the answers they provided in theconclusion of the Spring Board and Committee Meetings in application.This letter allows the company to understandOmaha, Nebraska. The Operations and Safety Committee what potential improvements to their policies can or shouldencourages all MRCA Members to participate in this valuable be made. Members may also follow up with Auman usingprogram!22 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'