“I’m surprised that you had trouble getting your subtrades to follow safety procedures…”

Here is a comment from Norm, responding to a recent article on safety on the jobsite – particularly when it comes to homeowner homebuilders – by our associate editor John Bleasby.  Here’s part 1 of Bleasby’s article. Here’s part 2.

“First off, John, I’m very keen to read more of your articles in the future. It was certainly an interesting series about building your own home. I’m glad that you took the time to set your site up properly and follow the steps required by law. (But) let’s not pat ourselves on the back to much just yet. Perhaps you haven’t been on enough real building sites yet?

As a carpenter who has worked all over Canada – and the world for that matter – it’s really great to see someone build their own dream home by taking the reins and leading by example. Congratulations! It really is the way to get what you want.

But you are by far in the minority.

Most homeowner/home builder jobs I’ve been involved in haven’t shown your level of commitment. I’ve had great experiences and some pretty lousy ones. Lots of times I’ve spent too much of my time helping an overwhelmed wannabe homebuilder to keep the wheels from falling off their project.

Budget problems, cheap materials, completely overestimating their abilities (try working for doctors/engineers/teachers/lawyers, the professional types… wow!), improper timing of trades, lack of any building knowledge, quality control… Oh yes, there are some people working in the building industry that really shouldn’t be but their price is right.

If it’s gotten to a point on a site that someone has to refuse work then you as the homeowner/builder have failed. If running your site is like herding cats and not like being the coach of a professional hockey team, then something you’re doing is very wrong.

I’m surprised that you had problems having your sub-trades follow safety procedures. The sub-trades I use don’t: that’s because they are professionals. Having to have a serious discussion with a trade about safety means you’ve both failed. Yes, both of you have failed. If you’ve a problem with a roofer not tied-off then I think perhaps you need to look at what you’ve hired. Sorry, but if you’re “the big cheese,” then day one you got to be on top of safety: the buck stops with you ultimately. If your lead hand didn’t already have his first aid did he even have his WHMIS or supervisor training? Fall awareness?

As I started off saying, I do sincerely congratulate you on building your home and I do hope it’s exactly what you wanted. But experience teaches humility and perhaps a “tug of the forelock” to someone like Alec (Caldwell, CARAHS.org) who does go out and stick his big nose into people’s building sites isn’t out of place.

Now you really struck the nail on the head with some of your other comments about TV contractors.

Pros take safety very seriously with the exception of the TV stars. Time and time again I watch a “TV reality star” completely and utterly disregard safety for a good heart-warming shot. So glad you brought this up; the little disclaimer in the credits doesn’t cut it for me.

It would be great to have someone get to the bottom of this problem. Why haven’t the Ontario Ministry of Labour crashed the party and brought these guys to task? What’s going on? I’ve asked these guys at trade shows about their lack of safety and all I get is a mumbled answer and a quick move onto some lame question from the next in line.

So go get em’ Tiger! You got teeth for sure so be the man that gets the answers.”