Industry Focus

Some would say that not many positive things result from involvement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), but the roofing industry is about to benefit from OSHA in a big way.

In 2000, NRCA received a Susan Harwood Training Grant from OSHA to be used to design a safety training program for roofing workers.

NRCA is using the grant, which was about $260,000, to develop a roofing worker training program that involves training supervisors to implement safety training programs in their companies.

Training trainers

NRCA is prepared to begin training safety trainers this month and seeking 200 volunteer roofing contracting companies to participate in the safety program.

The first 200 companies that volunteer representatives to participate in the program will receive training materials free of charge. In addition, each company will be given a $300 stipend in exchange for its commitment to the safety program.

The volunteers, who will become program administrators, will be required to attend one of 10 training sessions being offered throughout the United States (there is no registration fee). Travel expenses are companies’ responsibilities, but hotel reimbursement is possible under certain circumstances. The sessions will focus on how to train in a classroom environment, as well as with toolbox talks that will be provided.

Responsibility

Those who volunteer to become program administrators must be willing to administer a six-month-long training program that will consist of an incentive contest, weekly toolbox talks, and pretests and posttests. A program administrator can train foremen to conduct toolbox talks with their crews.

In addition, a program administrator must be sure workers are quizzed weekly about safety knowledge as part of the incentive program and update NRCA about his company’s progress.

Sign up

Participation in this new safety program can only help your company, and because OSHA is involved with the program, you can be sure your workers are taught the agency’s safety regulations.

For more information about the program, contact Amy Staska, NRCA’s director of education programs, at (800) 323-9545, Ext. 207; fax (847) 299-1183; or e-mail astaska@nrca.net.

Ambika Puniani is the editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's director of communications.

To reach me, write 10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 600, Rosemont, IL 60018-5607; telephone (847) 299-9070, Ext. 255; or e-mail apuniani@nrca.net.