As reported in The Chatham Daily News, Ken Poisson, a health and safety consultant, knows the challenge the jury at a coroner’s inquest here faces in finding recommendations to improve the attitude toward safety among roofers.

Noting a culture change is never easy, Poisson, who works for the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, told the five-member jury: “I’m a firm believer that education is a big part of that change.”

He said for some in the construction industry, health and safety is viewed as a cost rather an investment.

“Health and safety doesn’t magically happen in the workplace,” Poisson said, adding it’s important to make it part of an overall plan when starting on a job site.

Poisson acknowledges there are many safety products and it can be a challenge for smaller companies to track them all. He suggested ensuring supervisors receive training so they can oversee safety-rule compliance among all workers.

Poisson said homeowners also have a role to play when hiring a company to do a roofing job, which includes asking if there is a health and safety program in place. Homeowners should also request proof the company has WSIB coverage in the event of an accident, he said.

Keep reading in The Chatham Daily News

 

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