Photo of the month pics -

couldnt find an upload spot for my pics so ill try here -indiana barn roof -Crazy Cricket Shakedust

No insults given. I'd call them warnings. It just hasn't happened yet. Hopefully it doesn't. Most of you take this quite seriously, as all should. It's too easy to cop the attitude , we did OK this time. What about the next time? Brandon, sorry if you feel bruised by this but the intentions are well offered. PC

Mike, I agree with you. We don't learn anything with insults. We do however learn by other people mistakes. Only after we've been warned nicely do we deserve a public beating for not following the rules. Each and everyone of us are safety officers for our industry. If anyone seen my employees working unsafe, I would appreciate and welcome a phone call from them.

To all of our new roofers out there. Please understand that owning a business is taking ownership of someone elses mistakes, accountability, risks and all those things associated with it.

You will hear people on these boards tell you that it's like babysitting grown children. It is. But when done right it can be very exciting and rewarding. Don't let the lowballer make you think that he's getting all the work. Trust me he's not. He's just wearing himself down faster!

Brandon, we as a group welcome you to the boards. I'm sure you will fit right in and as your knowledge grows from these other fine roofers you will find yourself doing better. I lurked for a long while before chiming in. I don't agree with some of the posters, but everyonce in awhile you will even find the ones that seem "Not so Bright" to be shining stars within there field or expertise. Hang in there and you can only get better if you take sound advice and think above the line.

Here is my above the line: Ownership Accountable Responsible ___________ Here is my Below the line: Blame Excuses Denial

It's very hard to live your life above the line. I know as I try everyday and have a poster in my office to remind me of it.

Jeff aka/ soldierboy

I agree with everything you said Soldierboy. That "letter" is one of the biggest reasons our safety program is among the finest in the State. But as has been pointed out before, most of us have done something similar and it's a shame the guy got reamed the way he did right off the bat. Nobody learns a darn thing when we just insult each other.

Soldierboy, very well said. I know what you guys can do with or without the safety business but damn when something goes wrong it's a heartache. Some of my boys would bitch about cords, straps etc. but when they felt scared on a roof , they were bitchin' a different way. Please all of you do your best to keep safe. It happens, I've heard too many stories. Don't make yours' the next. PC

Hope this worked. This would be the first time that I posted pics. We have been running according to OSHA standards for more than a year successfully. We have a 100% participation within the company. We were lacksidasical on it before hand. But, as we got older the company became more successfull we figured we needed to create the safest place to work for the employees. This took dedication, hard work and the ability to send someone home if they didn't want to practice safe working habits within the company. It took being honest with ourselves and understanding that the government and all it's wisdom isn't wrong on everything. Ropes for hanging yourself? Slowing you down? WTH would you call being dead? For those that think your a woosy for wearing safety gear. Do this. Write a letter to your wife or husband, explain why their son/daughter got hurt and is paralized. NOW, BLAME YOURSELF FOR NOT PROTECTING OUR WORKFORCE!! Would you just close your doors go bankrupt and hope the family doesn't sue you personally? Being a boss, foreman, or anyone in charge has the duty to do what's right and not what's cost effective! Your a big arse idiot if you can't see that. If it's going to take you longer to be safer then bid it in. If the homeowner doesn't want to pay for safety, show him the reasons why he/she would want to. They are the ones that pay if someone gets hurt on their property and isn't covered under W/C. I am personally appauled at some of the posters hating on those that are safety concience. This is why our industry is going down and the jacklegs are still out there. Let homeowners know just how their jobsites are supposed to go. Give them the education that people working under roofers should have a hard hat on, roofers on the roof should have harnesses and ropes on, jacks and boards need to be set no matter the roof pitch(6' or above), safety glasses must be worn, and a tee shirt over the shoulder. Many other things need to be accomplished for safety also. I have called other companies to let them know their men are working unsafe. I have only been told once that I should leave their business to them. The others thanked me and one took me out to lunch for it. Seems that company also has standards and he was grateful to see another local company just looking out for other roofers. They are great pictures but show just how unsafe we are also. Jeff

TRG...........AMEN!! I'm glad to see someone working :) I am sick of snow.....

Heck,I`m glad to see someone taking the time for pictures :)

When I first started roofing and was made a foreman, I hired some of my friends. Their salary came out of my piece-work pay, but I didn't have anything to do with their wc, so some things never even occurred to me to avoid.

Even though this was long before X games and extreme sports, my friends were big on going into the backcountry at Park City or Alta, finding cliffs to ski off of into the powder. One guy worked for me 2 years and probably never took the ladder down on one-story houses. He just crouched down at the eave and jumped, practicing his landings. Another time we were eating lunch on the flat roof of a three story apartment building that we were doing a mansard on. Louie walks over to the edge, yells to us, waves and jumps off. We all scramble over and see Louie in a sand pile a dump truck had just dumped there. We all took turns jumping, I didn't like how it compressed my back, so I only did it once, but had no problem watching the other guys continue jumping. Young and stupid, I've been there.

Cakes, I apologize if i sound harsh! But this is a harsh buisness!The day i lighten up is the day my competition moves into 1st place! Im not havnt it!

Handnail lighten up, every roofer here has been there. Due to experience they have graduated. It is all understood , just offering a bit of advice.

Brandon all of the expressions are just that, your talking to roofers, just want you and your crew to be safe. Now you know what RCS is all about. To be honest you have brought some excitement into the boreasses around here. Welcome PC

Why don't yall give Brandon a break ! The job looks like it should have paid at least $500.00+ a sq! And ya know he got his throat sliced by some lap top roofer for $300.00sq , who would have sent a van full of Cans out to R&R that roof for a $160.00 a sq, Lap Top would have walked with his cut an never got a piece of dirt up nose, the cans would have got in there van and all went back to ther hut!and the legit roofing company would be sitting home waiting for the call to start the pig! At least hes got the old school American mentality (get up, get out there, and get it done!) Whens the last time anyone of yall drug a safety rope over a million nails in ferring strips and tryed to be productive! Let alone breathed in the dust the shakes create, let me guess, they should be in Tyvex suits and wear ventilaters like your guys! The safest way to handle that job is to work with a crew that know each other,feeds off each other, and is payed enough to take the time to be safe! It isnt out there anymore boys!

I'll give it that. He better come back. PC

Its got to be a record for posts and views for a first time poster though!

1342 people have viewed this and only 50 responded. Weenies. PC

Dr. Roof you are right! Young , dumb & full of ****. You all start somewhere. Hopefully this young man makes it in the world of roofing, a great trade but not for everyone. PC