Setting new safety standards

By Jonny Suchor. 

The RIDGEPRO journey to enhance roofing safety practices. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth chats with Brandon Strawder, the CEO of Strawder Family Innovations, which is the parent company of The RIDGEPRO, about the importance of roofing safety and a tool that can help you stay safer on the roof.  

In the heart of every great innovation often lies a story of invention. Such is how The RIDGEPRO came about, a safety device invented from a near-miss on a steep roof that almost claimed the life of Brandon’s father.  

This alarming incident set the Strawder family on a path to rethink roofing safety. "My dad was doing an inspection one day, and a shingle kicked out from underneath him. He came home physically shaken," shared Brandon. Fueled by this close call, the family brainstormed and eventually created an adjustable roof anchor specifically designed for steep roofs, turning their scare into a mission to protect roofers everywhere. 

The RIDGEPRO stands out in the market with its user-friendly design, allowing roofers to secure themselves before stepping onto the roof. This feature not only enhances safety but also boosts job efficiency. "What the RIDGEPRO specifically is, is a residential roof anchor. You flip it over and it clamps onto the roof,” Brandon explained. “Since your lifeline has already been attached to the anchor, the second you step off of the ladder, you have resistance at the peak of the roof." 

Beyond just a product, The RIDGEPRO is a shift towards a safety-first culture within the roofing industry. "When it comes to The RIDGEPRO, one of the things we're most proud of is that a lot of contractors who never used safety equipment before started into the safety industry with The RIDGEPRO," Brandon stated.  

As more companies adopt The RIDGEPRO, the roofing industry edges closer to a standard where safety is as fundamental as the shingles on a roof. With The RIDGEPRO, roofers can not only perform their jobs efficiently but also return home safely each day. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about The RIDGEPRO and how it can benefit you on the roof.