The Western States Safety App and what it can do for your team

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about how the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) is leveraging technology to make job sites safer. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Megan Ellsworth talks to Stephen Zasadil, the creator of WSRCA’s Safety Companion App.  

Stephen “started in safety around 2008, teaching first aid and CPR classes to construction crews.” Then, around 2011, he started consulting full time, helping with everything from OSHA compliance to job site inspections.  

He described his journey as one of constant learning, saying, "I had to study a lot to be able to answer questions of guys that have been in the industry for a long time, so I kind of developed a thing that if I didn't know the answer that I'd find out, then get back to you within the hour. I was never afraid to say, ‘I don't know,’ which I think gave me a lot of credit because sometimes you get answers that may not be correct, and I'd way rather be correct all the time and not know sometimes.” Because of this mentality, Stephen learned and became a certified Construction Health and Safety Technician through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals in 2016. 

With his background and training, Stephen was the ideal candidate for WSRCA to partner with for their safety app. In the past, companies he had consulted with were toying with the idea of a safety app, but it was never quite the right moment. Things changed when he was approached by the WSRCA. Stephen shared, "Joel, with Western States Roofing Contractors Association, asked if it'd be something that we could do, write an app, because they'd been thinking about it and talking about it." Stephen got to work and the WSRCA board was fully supportive, meeting consistently and building what has become the Western States Safety App. 

One of the key things this app does is utilize technology to make getting started on a job more efficient. One example of this is by helping with the OSHA-required emergency action plan. He explained how the app functions, saying, “The app uses GPS to actually map where you're at, so you enter in the address of where the work that you're doing. Then you can go through and say, ‘Okay, well, yes, I have my safety documentation. I've got my map to the nearest hospital. My fall protection stuff is in good condition.’ That's one side of it, just when you show up, it's already there for you.” And that is just one of the features within the app to make your life easier.  

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how to use the WSRCA’s Safety Companion App!