Safe Solutions

Tom, Rockingham Roofing's owner, is committed to safety and makes sure his employees participate in regular safety training. Tom is proud of his company's safety record; there have been no serious employee injuries in the company since its inception 10 years ago.

Roberto, an enthusiastic new employee, recently started working for Rockingham Roofing. He received some training during his first week and mostly worked in the company's warehouse. Roberto impressed his co-workers with his intelligence and hard work.

One mild fall day, a Rockingham Roofing crew led by a foreman, Lou, was installing a built-up roof system on a low-slope roof at a small shopping mall. Roberto was asked to go to the job site to help where needed.

Warning lines were in place, and all equipment had been checked for proper operation. Lou had informed the crew about the local fire codes and safety regulations. He also made sure the crew members knew to call 911 in the event of an emergency. Each employee wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including sturdy work boots with thick soles, long pants without cuffs, a long-sleeved shirt without cuffs, gloves and protective eyewear.

Several crew members were mopping hot asphalt during the roof system application, and Roberto was asked to assist them. This was his first time working on a roof and around hot asphalt. Like the other employees, he wore appropriate PPE.

After lunch, Roberto removed his long-sleeved shirt. He put his gloves back on and, under another employee's direction, began to carry buckets of hot asphalt to the work zone. But, as he was walking toward the work zone with two buckets of hot asphalt, he stumbled, and a dollop of hot asphalt splashed out of one of the buckets and landed on his arm. He screamed in agony, dropping the buckets and spilling more hot asphalt.

Lou rushed over to Roberto and examined his arm. The burn area was small, but the wound looked serious. Lou instructed one of the crew members to call 911 and request emergency medical assistance.

Lou filled a cup with cool water from the water cooler and gently poured some on Roberto's wound. Lou did not apply any ointments, salves or bandages to the wounded area—they could stick to the wound and make it worse. Lou told Roberto to lie down and that help was on its way.

An ambulance quickly arrived. Roberto was able to walk, and the medical team led him off the roof and into the waiting ambulance. Lou then called Tom and told him what had happened.

When Tom arrived at the hospital, a doctor was examining Roberto's arm. The hot asphalt had cooled, and the doctor was able to safely remove it. After cleaning and bandaging the wound, the doctor told Roberto he could go home. However, the doctor advised Roberto to take a few days off before returning to work.

Tom spoke with Lou to find out how the accident had happened. Tom was disturbed to learn Roberto had been allowed to work on the roof without a proper explanation of potential job hazards. Had Roberto known to wear a long-sleeved shirt at all times while working on the roof, he would have been better protect­ed from the hot asphalt.

Although Tom had held plenty of safety-training programs, he had never considered establishing a new-employee orientation program. The next day, he contacted his local roofing trade association to learn how he could better prepare new employees in the future.

Tom learned there are important steps to developing an effective new-employee orientation program. First, a company needs to educate new employees about potential job hazards and how to protect themselves from injury.

The association's health and safety expert told Tom new employees must be made more familiar with standard roofing operations and practices before they are allowed on job sites. New employees should be assigned to work with more experienced employees who can monitor their progress and ensure safe work practices are followed.

Tom thanked the expert for his help. Two new employees were scheduled to start at Rockingham Roofing the following week, and Tom made sure his new-employee orientation program would be in place when they arrived.

Peter Greenbaum is NRCA's director of education and training media.