How to enforce safety rules?

When employees have a safety infraction, what are the steps you take to reprimand and correct the problem?

well... i didnt read all the posts because i dont have much time, but according to OSHA you have to document safety infractions and show proof of a system where they are repromanded. We have safety inspections on every project, if they dont have a harness on it is a warning, if they dont have safety glasses on its a warning. If they get caught a second time it is 100.00 dollar fine for each safety infraction that is repeated. It is always a good idea to have a written safety plan, and to do safety training frequently. My uncle is a fall protection trainer in Chicago... if you have any other questions feel free to contact me any time.

Jtheod@greatroofing.com

I do agree with the last two assessments. Before my time in management, working on a 1 or 2 story 4/12 pitch with out gear, I was comfortable with. one day I had to work on a 3-story 26 sq 4/12 hip roof. My spider sences told me to gear up (was raining as well).

With that all aside....If you are woking for a company who allows roofers to work on an 8/12 pitch (w/o gear)...then it is ok because the ultimate responcibilities lie with the owner.

If the company does not allow it, then it is not ok and you should gear up all the times out of respect for your owner (who is responcible for the fines the roofer incurs), and additionally, your safety.

Well said Patty, with my knee pads, and gripall gloves i can do a 8/12, and feel @ home. Once my spider scences kick in then i know it"s time to harness up. :dry:

Enforce? I can only speak from knowing my boys. They all knew their limits. None of you are the same. We as a company complied with regulations, everyone bitched. They loved being loose. Trust. Nothing asked if they were uncomfotable. Certain jobs, requirements were respected. So were my roofers. PC

I was a safety officer and QC manager for over three years. We had a policy that if you got caught you would be paid minimum wage for the two week period (keep in mind all work was paid by piece and the check s were written....see below)

40 hrs @ $20.00...........$800.00...your minimum wage is the hrly rate bonus piece 1 @ $450.00...$450.00

Gross wages .............$1250.00

Half the time the owner would give in and hope that they learned the lesson for the final time. But when you give in, they become repeat offenders. I said all along he needed to fire someone to make a real point.

He did and it worked...for about a year until the guys started to get lazy again.

We have a policy in our company. We are all safety officers and make sure that we follow the rules. Get popped once and you find ways to minimize the sting the next time. If we stop by a jobsite and there is safety issues going on we charge the entire crew $50.00 a pop. We have only had to do this one time and now they self police themselves. If the company gets the fine and the employee that caused the fine gets nothing, what's the point? You can't make an employee help with a fine however with our system we have our own fines that keeps things in line. Safety Meetings every Monday morning at 7:00 a.m. Difficult jobs we hold one at the site. 4/12 and working in ropes sucks however the loss of an employee would be much much worse!

lol tinner, i'd always have an eye on you on the roof. i always heard the fired before you hit the ground one.

I know that the safty inspectors have a job. I just can't see why we need harness, and ropes on a 4/12. That on it own is a safty problem. :dry:

Had that issue way back when. Shoved the guy off the roof and turned to the others, " This is what happens when you don't comply with our safety policy at all times."

All the guys verifeid that the guy yelled " I quit" just before he jumped, so we still have a clean record. There haven't been any issues since he quit orking for me, 27 years ago. 100% compliance.

I had a safety incentive of $1 per hour above regular pay. If someone went all week with no infractions, they got the full dollar. If it was 75 to 99% of the time, it was .50 per hour. Less than 75%, it was .00. It was all at my discretion with no appeal. Rope use went from less than 50% of the time to over 75%.

Right now I just have me and one other guy and it's not an issue.