Commercial Roof Safety Training: Focus Four and a Whole Lot More

Do you ever think about all the things that can go wrong while working on a commercial roofing job site? We sure do! Falling off the roof is probably the first thing that comes to mind if you’re not in the roofing business but, as with all construction sites, roofers know there are plenty of other things that can go wrong, too.

That’s why it’s imperative that everyone who works on a commercial roof gets solid commercial roofing safety training. Workers must know how to work safely, which hazards to look out for, and what to do if someone gets hurt. This means everyone should be certified in OSHA 10 or OSHA 30, and should also be certified in Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED. It’s not required in Georgia but it is required by reputable roofing contractors and the companies that hire them.

OSHA 10 and OSHA 30

OSHA 10 is standardized training that’s regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. The program is based on research that’s so specific that the training is regulated down to the minute, in fact. OSHA 10 includes a total of 10 hours of training that can be completed online or in person, and participants must pass quizzes after each module and pass the final exam to receive their OSHA 10 certification cards. Card holders should renew their training every four to five years.

OSHA 10 topics include general construction site safety, health hazards, cranes and rigging, electrical safety, protective equipment, fall protection, hand and power tools, scaffolding and many other topics. OSHA 30 covers the same material as OSHA 10 but at a much deeper level — it includes 30 hours of training instead of 10, hence the name. Commercial roofing supervisors should be OSHA 30 certified, as well as technicians who have some safety responsibilities or want advanced training for career advancement.

Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED

What if someone gets hurt? When workers are trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED), they’ll know what to do to help a fellow worker (or themselves) until professional help can arrive, and if professional help is even needed. Something as simple as having been trained on how to deal with cuts, burns and eye issues can make a big difference when it comes to recovery. So can knowing recognizing the symptoms of heat stress or dehydration. Here’s how to find out where you can get the training.

Construction Focus Four Training

OSHA has identified the four most dangerous hazards when it comes to loss of life:

• Falling
• Caught-­in something or -between things
• Being hit by something
• Electrocution

Construction Focus Four Hazards training covers each of these hazards in depth. Class participants are required to be able to identify them and describe how to protect themselves from them. It’s a half-day program that includes hands-on demonstrations if the class is conducted in person like it is at Sentry Roof. And while Focus Four isn’t mandatory in our industry, it’s part of Sentry’s comprehensive commercial roofing safety training.

Does it matter who does the training?

We sure think so!

Sentry Roof’s in-house safety department is led by an OSHA 500 trainer, Rick Langheim. Rick conducts all of our OSHA 10, OSHA 30, Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED and Construction Focus Four training. And any other kind of specialized training our crews needs, such as high-fall rescues and fall protection for specific situations. OSHA 500 trainers must meet strict standards and are extremely qualified — ours is no exception. Before working in the construction industry, Rick was a ski patroller and patroller trainer for 10 years, so he’s all about being active and doing it safely.

In December, Sentry held a Construction Focus Four training in our warehouse and we capped off the session with a company lunch. Since it was the holidays, there had to be some gifts (of course!) — we were glad to present surprise gifts, along with to well-earned appreciation and attention, to some of the Sentry team members who have been with us the longest with. Two gift recipients have been with Sentry for over 20 years, three for over 15 years, and another three over 10 years.

Sentry is extremely thankful to have such an excellent and hard-working staff, and we do everything we can as a company to make sure everyone stays safe. Commercial roofing safety training is critical, but so is the message we send by having an in-house training department led by an OSHA 500 trainer who is always on hand and keeping everyone up to date.

If your company is interested in finding out more about how we train our staff in-house, feel free to contact Rick here. If you want to know if your workplace is considered safe, you can contact OSHA’s confidential onsite consultation program. It’s free and they won’t report you for anything negative they find, just help you correct it.