As we officially kick off “go-time” in the roofing industry, being aware of our safety and the safety of those around us is more important than ever. Over these past few weeks, Duro-Last®hosted our second annual Safety Day at each of our six locations, providing educational resources and information to help our employees focus on safe behaviors both at work and at home. Topics included Critical Incident First Aid, Distracted Driving, Chemical Safety, and Safety Starts with the Little Things – Know Your SOP’s and PPE’s! I had the pleasure of participating in these Safety Day activities at many of our locations and it was exciting to see everyone so engaged with the growth of their safety awareness.
I am also pleased to announce that the Duro-Last facility in Sigourney, Iowa was recently awarded with the prestigious Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP) status from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Only 44 business locations throughout the state of Iowa have achieved VPP status, recognizing the select few that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the health and safety of employees at all levels. To achieve VPP status, employers must implement effective safety and health management systems, and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. Our Iowa team worked cooperatively with OSHA to create a total commitment to workplace safety.
We now have two locations, Sigourney, Iowa and Grants Pass, Oregon, who have attained VPP status. Safety is not only the right thing to do, but it also “sells” and pays dividends. We are frequently asked by potential customers about our commitment to safety, and by providing a safe work environment we believe we attract the best people possible to join our organization.
Finally, I was encouraged by the strong turnout for the second annual Roofing Day in D.C., organized by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Roofing professionals from across the country, including Duro-Last representatives, visited Washington D.C. on April 4thto meet with members of Congress. Attendees advocated in support of legislation to addressesthe aging infrastructure of public buildings, immigration reform to meet the roofing industry labor scarcity while also protecting us from illegal immigration, and expanded workforce training incentives. To learn more about the topics that were discussed at this year’s event, visit the NRCA website to download the official statements. As always, thank you for your continued support of Duro-Last, and welcome to the start of another busy roofing season. All of us at Duro-Last look forward to more opportunities to fulfill our mission to “WOW OUR CUSTOMERS ALL WAYS ALWAYS!”
