Prevent Roof Fires During Torch-Down Projects
While driving to work recently, I heard a news story on the radio: An unlicensed roofer was charged with causing a fire at a local…
Articles by Michael J. Dudek
Hazard Communication for Roofers
According to Paracelsus, the 16th century physician and scientist: “Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a…
How to Deal With Winter Downtime
You worked hard all summer and made a lot of money. But now summer is over and winter is quickly approaching. With winter comes downtime….
Suicide in the Roofing Industry
A recent study released by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted suicide rates in 2012 by occupational group. According to the study,…
The High Roofer: Recognize Whether Drug Abuse Is Occurring in Your Workplace
Drug abuse in the workplace is a great threat to the health and safety of American workers, and roofers are no exception. Roofers have the…
How to Prevent Heat Illness in Roofing Workers
Here in the northeastern U.S., the leaves are turning green, birds are singing and the weather is pleasant. Soon, summer will arrive and this nice…
Data Can’t Replace a Commitment to Safety
I recently read a paper titled “Predictive Analytics in Workplace Safety: Four ‘Safety Truths’ that Reduce Workplace Injuries”, published by Pittsburgh-based Predictive Solutions. The company…
Are Union Workers Safer?
A colleague recently shared an article with me about the differences in accident and incident re- porting in unionized roofing construction compared with non-union firms….
How to Deal with an OSHA Inspection
Dealing with an OSHA inspection requires some knowledge of the Washington, D.C.- based Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s history and its background. OSHA is part…
OSHA’s Focus Four
I’m a safety professional. It’s what I do. When I drive around my neighborhood, I observe the practices of roofers who are working. Rarely—if ever—do…