The roles within risk management

By Emma Peterson.  

From the owner to the work crew to the manufacturers, every role in a project has a part in ensuring its success. 

In a recent Read Listen Watch® webinar, Heidi J. Ellsworth met with Jon Belnap from IB Roof Systems to discuss risk management in commercial roofing and how every person involved is key to a project’s success. Jon has worked in the industry for over 30 years, and in his own words, he’s “held most positions in the roofing industry.” He has worked up from a position as laborer into a journeyman, foreman, estimator, project manager and then a licensed contractor. He has also spent time on the other side of the table working as a consultant and a technical manager for a manufacturer. Through all this experience, he has learned how risk management is something everyone involved in a project is responsible for.  

Manufacturers  

The first thing that Jon mentioned was that manufacturers and their reps can oversell their products. He explained, “If the end user is expecting this roof to last for 50 years, but it only lasts for five, the owner ends up disappointed and that's when disputes happen.”  He went on to share that some issues can also arise from lack of information on products, specifically on data sheets and how they might not have proper installation information. He recommended that “manufacturers make sure they're spelling out their limitations of their products, compatibility issues, what really needs to happen to properly install those things.”  

Workmen 

According to Jon, the risks carry through to the installation process on the job. He explained that someone working on the site might not know the details of the work they are doing and how it will affect the final product. He used a weld seam as an example, and how it might not be done quite perfectly on the site which can cause issues down the line. Jon elaborated, “One little void can cost thousands of dollars of damage, and not just in terms of to the building, but also to the contents inside, and even business interruption.”  

His solution is to provide a lot of comprehensive training and education to the workers regarding the consequences. Jon explained that this requires regular interaction and communication between supervisors who have the large picture and design specifications and those doing the work on the ground. This is an area that builds upon the manufacturer’s role in mitigating risks, he elaborated, “We want to make sure that we're doing this the way it was designed, and also that we're doing it the way that the manufacturer needs it to be done.”  

Owners 

The other role that Jon touched on was that of the owner. The owner sets the project up for success or failure at the beginning. They are responsible for hiring and choosing both the manufacturer, the work crew and the schedule. He explained, “Owners want to get the lowest cost labor, the installer and they try to cut everywhere. They might also select a professional that has the lowest price rather than the best qualifications.” Jon also pointed out owners affect the project through scheduling. He commented, “Sometimes as we get rushed, these rush schedules can lead to mistakes and compromise the quality of the workmanship.” It is crucial that the owner is aware of all the aspects of risk management within each role and aspect of the project for it to succeed. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar learn more about risk management strategies.