(Editor’s Note:  Douglas began roofing in 1997 after graduating from Black Hills

State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.  Lowe Roofing, Inc., is a family-owned

roofing company that has been in operation since 1975 in South Dakota and

Wyoming.  Merge 3 Technology, Inc., helps contractors track and control their safety

processes and efforts on a daily basis.  Douglas also served on the WSRCA Board of

Directors for nine years and was the chair of the Safety and Health Committee and

Low-Slope Committee.)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifically calls out the requirement for employers to provide employees safety training.  In regards to OSHA’s fall protection standards, they have some very important requirements in place for the protection of roofing professionals.  OSHA’s training requirements are very detailed and extensive, so it is recommended that employers get the booklet Training Requirements in OSHA Standards from the OSHA website to help guide them in building a robust safety training program. 

When you set out to train your team on safety, make sure you are meeting the requirements that OSHA has for employers.  Proper training materials, teaching methods, and documentation are a must, while consistent meetings and a diligent plan will lead to safety success.

First, you need to become familiar with the OSHA’s section on training requirements for fall protection, which is section 1926.503.  This section spells out the conditions expected by OSHA when training your team members.  If OSHA visits your site, they are going to want to see proof that you have met these requirements as an employer.  Guidelines for a proper training program are the first thing addressed in 1926.503 and these items should give you a solid base to build your company training program.  Below are some specifics from the OSHA standard.

The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards.  The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.

The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained, as necessary, by a competent and qualified person.  Areas of training include everything from specific fall hazards in work areas, proper fall protection system use, proper PFA use, mechanical equipment use, handling of materials, as well as defining the employee's role in your fall protection plan. 

OSHA’s fall protection standard also deals with written certifications and proper documentation of those certifications.  Certification documents require the signature of the trainer and the employer, as wells as the date, time, and type of training.  In the case that OSHA changes a standard or law, employers are required to update certifications to reflect the new situation.  If you have done all of your training and it looks as though a team member has not retained the requisite understanding or skill, retraining and recertification is required. 

Keeping track of all of this is a challenge, but can mean the difference between large OSHA fines or passing an inspection with flying colors.  Make sure to document all your safety training and meetings for future review if necessary.  Getting ink on paper with a sign-in sheet is still the best way to protect yourself, and it helps your employees understand the importance of attending these trainings.  If you are a contractor member of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA), you will be able to sign-up for the WSRCA Mobile Safety Solutions online tool through the member clubhouse.  This mobile tool gives your team the basic tools needed to document and inspect safety from any phone, tablet, or computer.  It will also make training material available to your team members in the field.  Check out the member's lounge at the 2108 Western Roofing Expo, June 10-12, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The WSRCA Safety and Health Committee will be doing member demonstrations and signing companies up for the new system.