Safety Posts
General construction safety principles: The core practices every outdoor trade should follow
By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. Getting the fundamentals right is what separates disciplined contractors from the rest. Across the outdoor living industry, every contractor has their specialty — tile setting, hardscape, pool and spa, landscaping, lighting, sports surfaces, agronomics and general maintenance. Each trade has its own techniques, tools and ...
Clean sites prevent falls and fines: Housekeeping essentials for roofing crews
By Cotney Consulting Group. On a roof, there's no room for clutter — only for safe steps, sharp work and solid results. In the roofing industry, conversations about safety often focus on fall protection equipment, weather conditions or material handling. However, one of the most consistent and controllable hazards across any roofing ...
The slips nobody plans for: Winter fall hazards that catch roofing crews off guard
By Cotney Consulting Group. Cold weather demands a different pace, different planning and different expectations Most roofing companies prepare for winter by considering shorter days, material limitations and weather delays. What often gets less attention is how cold weather quietly changes jobsite conditions, making slips and falls more likely. Winter falls ...
Combat repetitive stress at work
By Cotney Consulting Group. Working hard shouldn’t mean hurting harder. With the right approach, your team can stay strong, productive and pain-free In the roofing industry, the focus on safety often centers around high-risk hazards like falls, heat stress or electrical shocks. But another threat creeps in quietly, one motion at ...
Safety systems for steep-slope roofing
By Matt Savin, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc. (FRSA). Learn about the options for fall protection to ensure the safety of workers on high-pitch roof systems. Steep-slope roofing, with its water and snow shedding benefits and strong curb appeal, also presents unique safety challenges that require close ...
Safety in every lift, load and mile
By Emma Peterson. From safer deliveries to crane support, CDS helps contractors minimize injury risks. Roofing consistently ranks in the top five of the most dangerous professions in the U.S. Forbes reported in 2021 that there were “2.4 nonfatal injuries per 100 full-time workers” and “59 fatalities per 100,000 full-time ...
Smart, safe solar: A guide to UL 3741
By Ali Turner, S-5! Learn what UL 3741 is, why it matters and how it supports safer, more cost-effective solar installations on metal roofs. In the fast-changing landscape of solar energy, ensuring safety and compliance is essential. S-5! understands that a key standard that has become increasingly vital is UL 3741, which ...
Fleet safety starts with maintenance: Why roofing contractors can't ignore vehicle care
By Cotney Consulting Group. In roofing, your tools may be on the roof, but your first step toward safety is the ride that gets you there. Roofing is a high-risk business; most safety conversations focus on what happens on the roof. However, many contractors overlook one of the most critical links ...
Safeguarding roofs from liability
By Jenny Yu. Contractors in snow-prone regions can reduce risk by educating customers and documenting snow retention decisions in every roofing contract. When winter weather hits, snow and ice can create dangerous conditions not only on the ground, but on the roof as well. For contractors, overlooking snow retention ...
OSHA eases compliance rules for smaller roofing companies
By Marco Industries. The changes reflect OSHA’s effort to make compliance more accessible and affordable for small roofing companies. For roofing contractors, maintaining a safe job site has always been a balancing act between protecting workers and avoiding costly fines. Until recently, small businesses often struggled with the high price ...
