Flashings

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OSHA seeks to prevent fatalities

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a pilot program that involves partnering with building inspectors in 11 U.S. cities to reduce injuries and fatalities at construction sites.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis sent letters to the mayors of the selected cities proposing that OSHA work with and train local building inspectors regarding hazards associated with the four leading causes of death at construction sites: falls, electrocution, being crushed or caught between objects, and being struck by moving machinery or objects. According to this program, building inspectors would notify OSHA when they observe unsafe work conditions. OSHA then would send a federal agency compliance officer to that workplace for an inspection.

"This initiative allows us to expand our eyes and ears," says David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary of labor. "Although we are adding 110 new inspectors this year, OSHA simply cannot inspect every construction site in the country."

OSHA seeks to partner with building inspectors in Austin, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Cincinnati; Concord, N.H.; Greenwood Village, Colo.; Madison, Miss.; Atlanta; Newark, N.J.; Oakland, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; and Wichita, Kan.

Additionally, in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the May 24 Federal Register, OSHA announced it plans to require improved worker protection from tripping, slipping and falling hazards on walking and working surfaces. A public hearing regarding the revised changes will be held after the NPRM's public comment period.

The NPRM describes revisions to the Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment standards to help prevent an estimated annual 20 workplace fatalities and more than 3,500 injuries serious enough to cause those injured to miss work.

The current Walking-Working Surfaces regulations allow employers to provide outdated and dangerous fall-protection equipment, such as lanyards and body belts that can cause workers to suffer greater injury from falls. Construction and maritime workers already receive safer, more effective fall-protection devices, such as self-retracting lanyards and ladder safety and rope descent systems, which the proposed revisions would require for general industry workers.

The current Walking-Working Surfaces regulations also do not allow OSHA to fine employers who allow workers to climb certain ladders without fall protection. Under the revised standards, this restriction would be lifted in virtually all industries, allowing OSHA inspectors to fine employers who jeopardize workers' safety by allowing them to climb such ladders without proper fall protection.

SBA launches technology resource website

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has partnered with Google™ to launch "Tools for Online Success," a website featuring resources and training designed to help small-business owners effectively use technology to grow their businesses.

Available at www.google.com/help/sba, "Tools for Online Success" features tutorials, video testimonials and tips from small-business owners who have used the Internet to become more efficient, cost-effective and successful.

"SBA is pleased to partner with Google to put these important tools in the hands of small businesses across the country," says SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "As the Web evolves and consumers adapt accordingly, we know that more customers are finding traditional 'Main Street' businesses online. With these tools for online success, we can ensure these small businesses reach new markets and customers so they can continue to create jobs."

Construction marketing association is launched

The Construction Marketing Association (CMA) has been launched for marketing managers and executives in construction-related industries. CMA is designed to provide professional development resources, networking opportunities and recognition for construction marketing professionals in North America.

The Construction Marketing Institute, CMA's continuing education division, will offer a Certified Construction Marketing Professional certificate and designation with several marketing training programs. CMA members can access extensive marketing and construction-related resources and information, a member directory and member profiles, and a career center with job postings.

In addition, CMA will host the annual Construction Marketing Effectiveness STAR™ Awards; the awards will recognize construction marketing effectiveness in more than 90 categories.

"Specialized professional groups are common in Europe and in North America for other marketing categories like healthcare and finance," says Neil Brown, CMA's founder and chairman. "Our focused resources will make CMA attractive to both employers and marketing staff of construction brands."

Freudenberg Politex raises prices

Freudenberg Politex, Novedrate, Italy, has instituted a 7 percent price increase that became effective in June. The price increase applies to the company's roofing reinforcements, nonwovens for thermal and acoustic insulation, and all other building materials.

"This further review of prices is unfortunately a forced choice due to the necessity to maintain the engagements with our customers, our associates and with all other induced players," says Riccardo Sollini, Freudenberg Politex's president and chief executive officer. "It is our responsibility to secure raw materials at any price to avoid discontinuing our production in order to guarantee the continuity of our service. We ask again for the support of our customers and their understanding of this decision made to protect our short-term activity and confirm our long-term commitment. With the same sense of responsibility, we are also committed to revising our prices downwards should raw material costs decrease in the forthcoming months."

Details

Scott Kawulok

What is your position within your company?
I am executive project manager for B & M Roofing of Colorado Inc., Frederick

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Stearns East Towers, a 12-story high-rise college dormitory at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The project involved properly removing and disposing of asbestos-containing roofing material and completely saturated lightweight concrete with steel reinforcement (about 5 by 6 inches thick) and installing a fully tapered polyisocyanurate insulation system, 1/2-inch-thick cover board, 60-mil-thick TPO roof membrane and new copper flashings. All roof system components were set in two-part urethane adhesive, and the project occurred during the winter while school was in session. The project was technically difficult and involved multiple safety concerns.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
My grandfather founded our company in Boulder more than 50 years ago, and my father is in the business, as well. I grew up with roofing in my blood, and despite having another career earlier in my life, I eventually came back to roofing, which continues to be exciting and challenging.

What was your first roofing experience?
When I was about 10, my father and I donated our time and the materials to shingle a large playhouse that needed a new roof at a local preschool to keep all the kiddos dry.

If you weren't a roofing contractor, what do you think you would be?
A civil or structural engineer

List three words that best describe you.
Hardworking, dedicated and even-tempered

What quality do you most like in a person?
Honesty

What three things are always in your fridge?
Mustard, sauerkraut and microbrew IPA

What do you consider your most rewarding experience?
Studying abroad in Austria and traveling throughout Europe for a semester during my undergraduate studies

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I have always wanted to visit the Scandinavian countries.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Building owners who don't know what they want, don't understand what they need and don't understand how to budget for a roof replacement

If you could invite any three people (dead or alive) to dinner, whom would you invite and why?
Plato, because he was one of the first people to establish an institution of higher learning, and he has left his fingerprints on almost all aspects of Western thought; Leonardo da Vinci because it would be a privilege to soak up his amazing intellectual curiosity and inventiveness and get a taste of his astonishingly diverse talents; and John Paul II because I consider him to be one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Managing my time and not losing sight of the big picture

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am an active member of the Colorado Roofing Association, graduated from NRCA's Future Executives Institute and am a newly elected member of NRCA's board of directors.

People would be surprised to know …
I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy and a graduate degree in literature, and my first career was teaching fifth grade.

Organization announces top 10 cities for vegetative roofs

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) has announced the results of its 2010 Industry Survey of its corporate members throughout North America. According to the survey, the vegetative roofing industry grew 16.1 percent during 2009 despite the economic downturn.

In the report's Top Ten Green Roofs Cities List, which ranks cities based on their square footage of installed vegetative roof systems, Chicago was ranked No. 1 for the sixth year in a row with more than 500,000 square feet of vegetative roof systems installed. Washington, D.C., was ranked second with 190,000 square feet of vegetative roof systems installed. Minneapolis was ranked third; Baltimore was ranked fourth; Newton Square, Pa., was ranked fifth; New York was ranked sixth; Redmond, Wash., was ranked seventh; Montreal was ranked eighth; Quebec City, Quebec, was ranked ninth; and Milwaukee was ranked tenth.

"We are definitely seeing the emergence of more public policies and direct investment that support the implementation of green roof infrastructure due to its many public benefits, such as storm water management, air quality improvement and reducing the urban heat island effect," says Jeffrey L. Bruce, GRHC's chair.

Put effort into rewarding employees

Your employee rewards program can be an excellent motivator but only if you put effort into designing it. Consider the following when rewarding your employees:

• Individual employees. Different people are motivated by different things. Discover what motivates each of your employees by finding out what they do in their free time. This will help you choose the right reward for each person.
• Available resources. It isn't necessary to spend a lot of money, but you should determine a reasonable budget for employee rewards. After finding out what motivates your employees, determine how much you need to spend to personalize rewards.
• Delivery. Rewards should be given as quickly as possible after an employee performs an action you want to reinforce. However, though some employees relish the spotlight, others may be embarrassed to be the center of attention. Plan your delivery carefully to maximize the reward's effect.