Flashings

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Government survey undercounts workplace injuries

According to The Wall Street Journal, a recent study by Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., found that government statistics failed to count about two-thirds of nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses that happened during a three-year period in Michigan. One main reason for the discrepancy could be underreporting by employers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles government statistics about workplace injuries through a survey of 230,000 employers. However, the survey omits employers who aren't required by law to report workplace injuries, and employers and employees who do report often underreport injuries.

For the Michigan State University study, researchers had access to confidential BLS records and used multiple databases to find evidence of injuries or illnesses. Producing more accurate data could change the way workplaces are viewed with regard to safety.

"If it's not accurate, how do you know where to put your resources and whether your interventions are effective?" says Kenneth Rosenman, professor of medicine at Michigan State University and the study's principal author.

Although BLS estimates 281,567 work-related injuries and illnesses occurred per year in Michigan from 1999 to 2001, researchers for the study estimate 869,034 work-related injuries and illnesses occurred during that time period and location.

Labor groups question government claims of declining injury rates in the face of the undercounting. BLS says there probably is some undercount and it is using a different methodology to conduct another study.

Roof Consultants Institute expands services

On March 28, 2006, the Roof Consultants Institute's (RCI's) board of directors adopted a proposal to expand RCI's membership services to include waterproofing and the building envelope as a result of RCI members expanding their service areas.

The expansion involves merging with the Building Envelope Institute (BEI) to provide membership services to BEI members. RCI and BEI have worked together before, managing and co-sponsoring a Building Envelope Symposium in Chicago in November 2005.

The RCI board also has decided to change RCI's name to RCI Inc., The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing & Building Envelope Professionals.

The significance of sleep

Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep during a night to perform their best the following day. However, the average person gets fewer than seven hours of sleep each night. Following are more sleep statistics:

• Fifty million people in the U.S. will experience a chronic period of sleep disturbance during their lifetimes.
• A principal cause of workplace accidents is fatigue among workers.
• Sleep deprivation stimulates the growth of fat cells and boosts hormones that increase appetite and blood-sugar levels; sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, strokes and heart attacks.
• About 10 percent to 20 percent of shift workers doze during their jobs.
• It takes about 2 1/2 hours for a sleep-deprived person to do what he could do in one hour when well-rested.
• Some researchers say chronic sleep deprivation can cut years from a person's life.
• The Utah Department of Transportation reports that fatigued drivers are the No. 1 cause of automobile-related deaths in Utah.

Source: Adapted from "Sick and tired: Sleep disorders are taking a toll" as cited by The Motivational Manager, March 2006 issue

GAF elects new president and CEO

GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., has announced Robert B. Tafaro as its president and chief executive officer (CEO).

Tafaro joined GAF Materials in 1989 and most recently served as chief operating officer. He serves on the board of directors for Building Materials Corp. of America, the parent company of GAF Materials, and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and also is president of ARMA.

Tafaro is replacing Bill Collins, who left GAF Materials to join Habitat for Humanity International's Hurricane Katrina recovery effort.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Bob's demonstrated leadership in the building materials industry to head our company, as well as the strong and capable team of senior managers developed under Collins' leadership during the years," says Samuel Heyman, who served as acting CEO during the past six months.

Details

Chris Sears
Vice president of John F. Shea Co. Inc., Boston

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
We installed a felt-backed PVC membrane on the hull of a 60-year-old tugboat that had been sunk twice and designated a historical artifact. Our work allowed the tugboat to be transported to a dry dock set up for its preservation.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
Coming out of college, I had several opportunities in the design field, but I chose to work for Bob Shea because I found him and his employees to be down-to-earth. I thought I'd give it a year or two, but it turned out to be something I truly enjoy and has proved to be a great decision.

What was your first roofing experience?
Generating shop drawings for a project for new luxury boxes at Fenway Park, Boston. Although I had plenty of drafting experience, I had no idea what I was drawing. I explicitly remember asking, "What is flashing?"

What are your favorite items on your desk?
I hate everything on my desk—it's where the "issue" files are. But my wife and I are expecting, so I'll soon have my son's or daughter's photo there.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Getting married and starting a family has been the most personally rewarding. Professionally, overseeing the roof installation at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass., during the New England Patriots' first championship season was most rewarding. Although it's an outdoor stadium, there were 1,600 squares of roofing material on 50 different areas, making coordination of tasks extremely difficult. There was a spirit of teamwork during this project I never have seen during any other project.

What was your first job?
Washing dishes at age 16 at a seafood restaurant called The Captain's Galley. It was a great way to get the family car because I smelled so bad at the end of each shift, nobody wanted to pick me up.

What is your favorite vacation?
Our honeymoon in Hawaii—it most likely will take a while, but I can't wait to go back.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Meetings that are poorly organized and drag on too long.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is organization, and my worst habit is procrastination.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Professionally, I am bothered by overly restrictive project rules that treat our workers like second-class citizens. Personally, I find Tyra Banks to be incredibly irritating.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
My brother Tom died suddenly three years ago, so, naturally, it would be great to see him again. My cousins Timmy and Patrick also passed away during the past two years and were too young to go. It would be one hell of a reunion.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Golfing.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Trying to prioritize tasks and maximize my production while realizing there's no way I'll ever be caught up.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am an NRCA director, National Roofing Legal Resource Center director and North/East Roofing Contractors Association director.

People would be surprised to know...
I've taught myself to play the drums during the past few years. I'm sure my neighbors are thankful my practice time is limited.

Dow Chemical prices increase

The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., increased its prices in the U.S. and Canada for certain polyurethane products June 1.

The prices for VORANATE™ toluene diisocyanate (TDI); VORANOL,™ VORALUX™ and SPECFLEX™ polyether and co-polymer polyols; and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) have increased 5 cents per pound.

"Dow Polyurethanes continues to face high and volatile energy and raw-material costs," says Pat Dawson, Dow Chemical business vice president of polyurethanes and thermoset systems.

Signs of a strong job candidate

The next time you're interviewing a potential employee, remember these surefire ways to tell which candidates are serious about the job and which are indifferent.

• Timely arrival for an interview is a safe indication a candidate wants to make a good impression and takes the position seriously. Tardiness—unless there is a concrete reason for it—signals a lack of commitment.
• Appropriate attire is worn by people who are determined to look their best. If someone shows up for an interview in a T-shirt, you can assume he or she doesn't want the position that badly.
• Enthusiasm signals a candidate is excited about the position. Indicators of an enthusiastic candidate include a friendly smile, firm handshake and willingness to ask questions.
• Preparation is perhaps the best gauge of how serious a candidate is; someone who goes to the trouble of learning what they can about your organization obviously cares about the position.

Source: Adapted from "Ten interviewing rules" as cited by The Motivational Manager, March 2006 issue

Cut out gossip

Gossiping about others in the workplace often occurs when you are angry or irritated with someone but don't have the courage to talk to that person directly. The next time you feel like gossiping about someone, resist the urge.

Gossiping will not produce the result you want. Not only will you likely feel guilty later for gossiping, but if the subject of your criticism hears what you're saying, it might cause additional problems. Also, when you gossip, the people listening probably are asking themselves what you say about them when they're not around. This will undermine others' trust in you.

If you have a serious problem that needs to be addressed, don't stoop to gossiping. It usually is best to go to the person and raise the issue in question as tactfully as possible.

Source: Adapted from First Draft, April 2006 issue