Finding roofing crews is easy in residential neighborhoods. You can see them from miles away, often bouncing around up there without safety harnesses.
Until somebody takes a fall. Then, it’s time for the Ministry of Labour to investigate. In Ontario, as in most jurisdictions, if you’re the contractor, they’ll be demanding to see fall protection certificates on everyone. They will also, under the law, be asking to see your company’s policies and procedures. And they will be all over your internal reporting system (IRS) for compliance.
If you don’t have all of this stuff, you can then be found guilty of negligence. You will face a fine ranging from $25,000 to $500,000. You could spend up to a year in jail. This is serious stuff. But who said being a contractor was an easy way to make a living?
Everyone, please get compliant, for your own peace of mind. There are too many roofing and scaffolding tragedies happening across this country.
Alec Caldwell is the founder of the Canadian Association of Renovators and Home Services (CARAHS). He can be reached at alec@carahs.org. For more information on CARAHS courses, including fall safety compliance, visit www.carahs.org.
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